Starmer's Supporters Launch 'Halt Andy Burnham' Campaign to Prevent Manchester Mayor's Parliamentary Comeback
Close associates of Labour leader Keir Starmer have reportedly kicked off a coordinated campaign to stop Andy Burnham, the Labour Party Mayor of Greater Manchester, from making a comeback to parliament. This action comes after the resignation of a Manchester-area MP, which has triggered an upcoming by-election.
Major Hurdles in the Selection Procedure
Several figures on the party's powerful national executive committee (NEC) have apparently predicted it would be extremely difficult for Mr. Burnham to successfully pass through the candidate selection process. This is largely due to the sizable presence of Starmer loyalists on the body who are desperate to avert any potential challenge to Starmer's leadership.
The Labour hierarchy is said to have swung into action following the announcement of the MP's planned resignation, with party figures and MPs voicing warnings about the substantial financial cost and electoral danger of a resulting election for mayor in Greater Manchester.
Burnham's Ambitions and Party Concerns
Andy Burnham has made no secret of his political ambitions. Last year, he prompted outrage within No 10 and among cabinet ministers when he stated that numerous MPs had urged him to run for the party leadership.
There has long been speculation that he is seeking a seat in the Commons to possibly stand for the party leadership if a challenge to Sir Keir arise. However, allies of the Mayor have cautioned against overstating the extent of any planning, suggesting he is deeply committed to his current role and would only return Westminster 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 struggling in the polls and many MPs despondent about Labour's prospects at the forthcoming election, Andy Burnham stands out as the sole senior Labour figure with favourable ratings with the public.
If Mr. Burnham decide to run, several hurdles remain. He would need to be selected by the NEC—where the chances are stacked against him—and then secure victory in the by-election against competition from Reform and independent candidates, all before any potential bid for the leadership.
Efforts to Block Burnham
High-ranking Labour sources have said that a "Stop Andy" operation is already under way, with the party's organisation being tightly controlled by key allies of the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister himself said that the byelection process was in its "early stages" and urged his MPs to stop talking about possible leadership challenges.
Andy Burnham, speaking before the MP's departure was confirmed, told reporters: "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 allegedly pointed to not only personal opposition towards Mr. Burnham but also the prohibitive cost of a mayoral byelection in Greater Manchester. This could redirect around ÂŁ500,000 in campaign funds from other key electoral battles 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 insiders also expressed concerns about Nigel Farage’s party attempting to fill any vacancy 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 run. It is also possible the body could enforce an women-only shortlist to block his nomination.
However, one Burnham ally counselled against presuming the NEC would simply block his candidacy, despite Sir Keir's team is widely thought to control it.
The trade unions occupy a sizable number of seats on the NEC. While the biggest unions are currently keeping their counsel, sources suggested they would be uncomfortable with anything seen as interference from Downing Street.
The general secretary 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."
Electoral Challenges
The constituency in question has a sizable Labour lead. However, Reform UK is likely to launch a significant challenge, building on its vote in one part of the constituency. Labour assesses it is on firmer ground in the more populous Greater Manchester section, though it could face some pressure from independent candidates.
Should Mr. Burnham return to parliament, he would need the backing of 80 Labour MPs to launch a bid for the leadership, a requirement that is far from certain given he is viewed with scepticism by a number of on the backbenches.
The resigning MP confirmed he was resigning due to deteriorating health, which had made it impossible for him to carry on in his role. He also remains subject to a standards inquiry related to his membership in an inappropriate online group.
