Rayner to Back Burnham's Westminster Bid as Labour MPs Gather
Labour MPs are set to gather amid intense speculation that Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, could seek to stand in a Westminster by-election, potentially challenging the Prime Minister's authority. According to reports, former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner is expected to support Burnham's potential bid to become an MP.
Conference of North-West MPs
The conference of Labour's north-west England MPs will see Angela Rayner tell colleagues she is supportive of allowing the mayor to stand in the Gorton and Denton constituency candidacy race, as reported by The Times. This comes after Andrew Gwynne, the former MP for the Greater Manchester seat, formally quit on Friday, paving the way for a by-election to take place.
Burnham, long viewed as a potential rival to the Prime Minister for the Labour leadership, now faces a tight deadline to decide whether to put his name forward as Labour's candidate for the seat. Applicants must submit their names before midnight on Sunday. However, as a regional mayor, Burnham must also seek permission by 5pm on Saturday from Labour's National Executive Committee (NEC), a body whose membership includes many Starmer loyalists.
Selection Process and Deadlines
A selection process is expected to unfold over the course of next week, culminating in a hustings and NEC endorsement by Saturday, January 31. This timeline adds pressure to Burnham's decision-making process, as he navigates the dual hurdles of internal party approval and public candidacy.
Elsewhere, senior cabinet members are scheduled to speak at the Fabian Society's new year conference. Health secretary Wes Streeting, energy secretary Ed Miliband, and deputy Labour leader Lucy Powell – a Manchester MP – will be among those appearing at the central London event, highlighting the broader political landscape amidst this speculation.
Labour MPs Warn Against NEC Block
On Friday, several Labour MPs voiced concerns against using the NEC to block Burnham from standing in Gorton and Denton. Jo White, who chairs the Red Wall group of Labour MPs, stated: "Let the North decide who their Labour candidate should be for the Gorton and Denton by-election. A London stitch-up will be a disaster for Labour."
Crewe and Nantwich MP Connor Naismith added: "Gorton and Denton deserves the best possible choice of candidates. I agree with the Prime Minister that our attention should be on delivering for the public, not speculating about future leadership contests. Any decision made to limit the choice would be wrong."
NEC Member and MP Reactions
A member of the NEC, Gemma Bolton, a constituency members' representative on the committee, told the BBC's Newsnight that it would be "outrageous" to block Burnham should he stand, adding it would "show a real weakness" in Sir Keir's leadership.
Cat Smith, the Labour MP for Lancaster and Wyre, expressed disappointment at the possibility of Number 10 blocking strong candidates. She told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I don't know the decision that's being made at Number 10, but what I do know is that Labour Party members in Gorton and Denton are the people who should be deciding who the Labour candidate is for the by-election and that the voters in Gorton and Denton are the people that will make the decision on who that person is when the by-election happens. I think it would be disappointing if Number 10 were to block strong candidates from being able to be considered by the party members in Gorton and Denton, to be able to choose their candidate in this by-election."
As the deadline approaches, the political manoeuvring within Labour intensifies, with Burnham's potential bid symbolising broader tensions over leadership and regional representation in the party.
