🔗 Share this article Keir Starmer's Supporters Initiate 'Block Andy Burnham' Effort to Prevent Manchester Mayor's Parliamentary Re-entry Key supporters of Prime Minister Keir Starmer have reportedly set in motion a concerted campaign to block Andy Burnham, the Labour Greater Manchester Mayor, from securing a return to parliament. This action comes after the stepping down of a Manchester MP, which has triggered an impending byelection. Serious Barriers in the Candidate Selection Procedure Several members on the Labour Party's powerful national executive committee (NEC) have reportedly suggested it would be extremely difficult for Mr. Burnham to successfully pass through the candidate selection process. This is primarily due to the significant presence of supporters of the Prime Minister on the committee who are anxious to head off any future leadership challenge. The Labour party machine reportedly swung into action following the revelation of the MP's intended resignation, with officials and MPs raising concerns about the considerable financial cost and electoral danger of a resulting election for mayor in Greater Manchester. The Mayor's Aspirations and Party Concerns Andy Burnham has made no secret of his national ambitions. Previously, he prompted anger in Downing Street and among senior ministers when he stated that numerous MPs had encouraged him to run for the party leadership. There has long been speculation that he is aiming for a seat in the Commons to possibly stand for the party leadership should a contest to Sir Keir arise. However, supporters of the Greater Manchester Mayor have warned against overstating the extent of any planning, suggesting 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. Current Climate and Poll Ratings Amid polls indicating Sir Keir is unpopular and many MPs despondent about Labour's fate at the next election, Andy Burnham is seen as the only prominent Labour personality with favourable ratings with the public. Should Mr. Burnham choose to stand, multiple hurdles stand in his way. He would need to be approved by the NEC—where the chances are not in his favour—and then win the by-election against competition from Reform UK and pro-Gaza independents, all prior to any possible bid for the leadership. Efforts to Block Burnham Senior Labour figures have indicated that a "Stop Andy" campaign is already in progress, with the party machinery being tightly controlled by key allies of the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister himself commented that the byelection process was in its "initial phases" and told his MPs to stop talking about potential contests for the leadership. Andy Burnham, commenting before the MP's departure was confirmed, said to journalists: "People shouldn’t rush to conclusions. I have been very focused on my role as mayor of Greater Manchester." Financial and Political Dangers NEC members have reportedly cited not only personal animosity towards Mr. Burnham but also the prohibitive cost of a mayoral byelection in Greater Manchester. This could divert an estimated £500,000 in campaign funds 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," an insider claimed. A number of sources also expressed concerns about Nigel Farage’s party attempting to win the mayoralty left by Mr. Burnham, which would represent a significant political win for them. Union Influence and Procedural Fears As a publicly elected mayor, Mr. Burnham would require the NEC's approval to stand. It is also possible the body could enforce an women-only shortlist to block his nomination. However, one Burnham ally counselled against assuming the NEC would simply block his candidacy, despite Sir Keir's team is largely believed to control it. The trade unions occupy a significant number of seats on the NEC. While the largest unions are for now remaining quiet, sources suggested they would be opposed to anything seen as meddling from Downing Street. The leader of the Fire Brigades Union stated: "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." Electoral Challenges The seat in question holds a considerable Labour majority. However, Reform is likely to mount a significant campaign, building on support in one part of the constituency. Labour believes it is on stronger footing in the more populous Greater Manchester section, though it could face a challenge from independent candidates. If 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 far from certain given he is regarded with caution by a number of on the backbenches. The resigning MP stated he was stepping down due to deteriorating health, which had made it impossible for him to carry on in his role. He is also under a standards inquiry related to his membership in an offensive online group.
Key supporters of Prime Minister Keir Starmer have reportedly set in motion a concerted campaign to block Andy Burnham, the Labour Greater Manchester Mayor, from securing a return to parliament. This action comes after the stepping down of a Manchester MP, which has triggered an impending byelection. Serious Barriers in the Candidate Selection Procedure Several members on the Labour Party's powerful national executive committee (NEC) have reportedly suggested it would be extremely difficult for Mr. Burnham to successfully pass through the candidate selection process. This is primarily due to the significant presence of supporters of the Prime Minister on the committee who are anxious to head off any future leadership challenge. The Labour party machine reportedly swung into action following the revelation of the MP's intended resignation, with officials and MPs raising concerns about the considerable financial cost and electoral danger of a resulting election for mayor in Greater Manchester. The Mayor's Aspirations and Party Concerns Andy Burnham has made no secret of his national ambitions. Previously, he prompted anger in Downing Street and among senior ministers when he stated that numerous MPs had encouraged him to run for the party leadership. There has long been speculation that he is aiming for a seat in the Commons to possibly stand for the party leadership should a contest to Sir Keir arise. However, supporters of the Greater Manchester Mayor have warned against overstating the extent of any planning, suggesting 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. Current Climate and Poll Ratings Amid polls indicating Sir Keir is unpopular and many MPs despondent about Labour's fate at the next election, Andy Burnham is seen as the only prominent Labour personality with favourable ratings with the public. Should Mr. Burnham choose to stand, multiple hurdles stand in his way. He would need to be approved by the NEC—where the chances are not in his favour—and then win the by-election against competition from Reform UK and pro-Gaza independents, all prior to any possible bid for the leadership. Efforts to Block Burnham Senior Labour figures have indicated that a "Stop Andy" campaign is already in progress, with the party machinery being tightly controlled by key allies of the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister himself commented that the byelection process was in its "initial phases" and told his MPs to stop talking about potential contests for the leadership. Andy Burnham, commenting before the MP's departure was confirmed, said to journalists: "People shouldn’t rush to conclusions. I have been very focused on my role as mayor of Greater Manchester." Financial and Political Dangers NEC members have reportedly cited not only personal animosity towards Mr. Burnham but also the prohibitive cost of a mayoral byelection in Greater Manchester. This could divert an estimated £500,000 in campaign funds 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," an insider claimed. A number of sources also expressed concerns about Nigel Farage’s party attempting to win the mayoralty left by Mr. Burnham, which would represent a significant political win for them. Union Influence and Procedural Fears As a publicly elected mayor, Mr. Burnham would require the NEC's approval to stand. It is also possible the body could enforce an women-only shortlist to block his nomination. However, one Burnham ally counselled against assuming the NEC would simply block his candidacy, despite Sir Keir's team is largely believed to control it. The trade unions occupy a significant number of seats on the NEC. While the largest unions are for now remaining quiet, sources suggested they would be opposed to anything seen as meddling from Downing Street. The leader of the Fire Brigades Union stated: "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." Electoral Challenges The seat in question holds a considerable Labour majority. However, Reform is likely to mount a significant campaign, building on support in one part of the constituency. Labour believes it is on stronger footing in the more populous Greater Manchester section, though it could face a challenge from independent candidates. If 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 far from certain given he is regarded with caution by a number of on the backbenches. The resigning MP stated he was stepping down due to deteriorating health, which had made it impossible for him to carry on in his role. He is also under a standards inquiry related to his membership in an offensive online group.