Starmer's Allies Launch 'Stop Andy Burnham' Drive to Prevent Manchester Mayor's Parliamentary Re-entry
Key supporters of Labour leader Keir Starmer have allegedly set in motion a concerted campaign to block Andy Burnham, the Labour Greater Manchester Mayor, from securing a comeback to the House of Commons. This move comes after the resignation of a Manchester-area MP, which has sparked an impending byelection.
Significant Obstacles in the Candidate Selection Procedure
Multiple members on the party's powerful national executive committee (NEC) have reportedly suggested it would be highly challenging for Mr. Burnham to navigate the candidate selection procedure. This is primarily due to the sizable presence of supporters of the Prime Minister on the body who are desperate to head off any potential challenge to Starmer's leadership.
The Labour party machine reportedly mobilised following the announcement of the MP's planned resignation, with party figures and MPs raising concerns about the considerable financial cost and electoral danger of a subsequent election for mayor in Greater Manchester.
Burnham's Ambitions and Party Concerns
Andy Burnham has made no secret of his national ambitions. Last year, he caused outrage within No 10 and among senior ministers when he stated that numerous MPs had encouraged him to run for the Labour leadership.
It has long been believed that he is aiming for a seat in the Commons to possibly contest the party leadership if a contest to Sir Keir arise. However, supporters of the Mayor have cautioned against exaggerating the level of any planning, stating he is deeply committed to his current role and would only return national politics if he felt he had a meaningful contribution to make.
"People want to paint him as scheming and plotting but that’s absolutely not where he is. He loves being mayor of Manchester. It would only ever be an option if felt he had something to offer," one ally said.
Political Landscape and Public Approval
Against a backdrop of opinion polls indicating Sir Keir is struggling in the polls and many MPs pessimistic about Labour's fate at the forthcoming election, Andy Burnham stands out as the only senior Labour personality with favourable public approval ratings.
Should Mr. Burnham decide to run, multiple obstacles remain. He would need to be approved by the NEC—where the odds are not in his favour—and then secure victory in the byelection against challenges from Reform UK and independent candidates, all before any possible leadership challenge.
The 'Stop Andy' Campaign
High-ranking Labour sources have said that a "Stop Andy" campaign is already in progress, with the party machinery being tightly controlled by senior aides of the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister himself commented that the byelection process was in its "initial phases" and urged his MPs to cease discussion of possible leadership challenges.
Andy Burnham, speaking before the MP's resignation was finalised, told reporters: "People shouldn’t rush to conclusions. I have been very focused on my role as mayor of Greater Manchester."
Costs and Risks
Figures on the committee have allegedly pointed to not only personal animosity towards Mr. Burnham but also the prohibitive cost of a mayoral byelection in Greater Manchester. This could divert around £500,000 in party funding from other crucial elections across the country.
"It is deeply selfish of Andy to want to run for this – costing us tens of thousands we don’t have and diverting activist resources... It is absurd beyond description and cannot be allowed," one source said.
A number of sources also shared concerns about Nigel Farage’s party potentially win the mayoralty left by Mr. Burnham, which would represent a major political win for them.
Role of the Unions and Democratic Concerns
Being an elected mayor, Mr. Burnham would require the NEC's approval to stand. It is also possible the committee could impose an women-only shortlist to block his nomination.
However, one Burnham ally warned against presuming the NEC would simply reject him, despite Sir Keir's team is widely thought to dominate it.
The trade unions occupy a significant proportion of seats on the NEC. While the largest unions are currently remaining quiet, sources indicated they would be opposed to anything seen as meddling from Downing Street.
The leader of the Fire Brigades Union said: "It would be a democratic outrage if Andy Burnham was blocked... Our union will fiercely resist any attempts to stitch up the selection. It’s vital that there is a full and open democratic procedure."
By-election Battle
The seat in question has a sizable Labour lead. However, Reform is expected to launch a strong challenge, building on support in one part of the constituency. Labour believes it is on stronger footing in the larger Greater Manchester section, though it could face some pressure from pro-Gaza independents.
Should Mr. Burnham return to parliament, he would need the backing of 80 Labour MPs to mount a bid for the leadership, a hurdle that is not guaranteed given he is viewed with scepticism by a number of on the parliamentary party.
The resigning MP confirmed he was resigning due to deteriorating health, which had made it impossible for him to continue in his role. He also remains under a parliamentary standards investigation related to his involvement in an inappropriate online group.
