🔗 Share this article Keir Starmer's Backers Begin 'Block Andy Burnham' Drive to Thwart Mayor's Parliamentary Return Key supporters of Prime Minister Keir Starmer have allegedly set in motion a concerted campaign to stop Andy Burnham, the Labour Party Mayor of Greater Manchester, from making a comeback to the House of Commons. This action follows the resignation of a Manchester-area MP, which has sparked an impending by-election. Major Obstacles in the Candidate Selection Procedure Several members on the party's ruling national executive committee (NEC) have apparently predicted it would be extremely difficult for Mr. Burnham to successfully pass through the selection procedure. This is largely due to the significant number of supporters of the Prime Minister on the body who are keen 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 party figures and MPs raising concerns about the substantial expense and political risk of a subsequent mayoral race in Greater Manchester. The Mayor's Aspirations and Internal Disquiet Andy Burnham has been open about his political ambitions. Last year, he prompted outrage within No 10 and among senior ministers when he remarked that numerous MPs had encouraged him to stand for the Labour leadership. There has long been speculation that he is aiming for a seat in the Commons to possibly stand for the Labour leadership if a contest to Sir Keir emerge. However, supporters of the Mayor have warned against overstating the extent of any planning, stating he is deeply committed to his job as mayor and would solely re-enter 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. Political Landscape and Poll Ratings Against a backdrop of opinion 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 consistently positive public approval ratings. If Mr. Burnham decide to run, several hurdles stand in his way. He would need to be selected by the NEC—where the chances are stacked against him—and then win the byelection against challenges from Reform and independent candidates, all prior to any potential leadership challenge. The 'Stop Andy' Campaign High-ranking Labour sources have indicated that a "Stop Andy" operation 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 "early stages" and told his MPs to stop talking about possible contests for the leadership. 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 reportedly pointed to not only personal animosity towards Mr. Burnham but also the significant expense of a mayoral byelection in Greater Manchester. This could divert around £500,000 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 sources also expressed concerns about Nigel Farage’s party potentially fill any vacancy created by Mr. Burnham, which would represent a major symbolic victory for them. Role of the Unions and Procedural Fears As a publicly elected mayor, Mr. Burnham would require the NEC's permission to run. It is also possible the committee could enforce an all-female shortlist to block his nomination. However, a supporter counselled against presuming the NEC would simply reject him, even though Sir Keir's team is widely thought to control it. The trade unions hold a sizable proportion of seats on the NEC. While the largest unions are currently remaining quiet, insiders suggested they would be opposed to anything perceived as interference 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." Electoral Challenges The constituency in question holds a considerable Labour majority. However, Reform is likely to mount a significant challenge, capitalising on support in one part of the constituency. Labour believes it is on firmer ground 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 requirement that is far from certain given he is regarded with caution by a number of on the parliamentary party. The resigning MP stated he was stepping down due to deteriorating health, which had made it impossible for him to continue in his role. He is also under a parliamentary standards investigation concerning his membership in an offensive online group.
Key supporters of Prime Minister Keir Starmer have allegedly set in motion a concerted campaign to stop Andy Burnham, the Labour Party Mayor of Greater Manchester, from making a comeback to the House of Commons. This action follows the resignation of a Manchester-area MP, which has sparked an impending by-election. Major Obstacles in the Candidate Selection Procedure Several members on the party's ruling national executive committee (NEC) have apparently predicted it would be extremely difficult for Mr. Burnham to successfully pass through the selection procedure. This is largely due to the significant number of supporters of the Prime Minister on the body who are keen 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 party figures and MPs raising concerns about the substantial expense and political risk of a subsequent mayoral race in Greater Manchester. The Mayor's Aspirations and Internal Disquiet Andy Burnham has been open about his political ambitions. Last year, he prompted outrage within No 10 and among senior ministers when he remarked that numerous MPs had encouraged him to stand for the Labour leadership. There has long been speculation that he is aiming for a seat in the Commons to possibly stand for the Labour leadership if a contest to Sir Keir emerge. However, supporters of the Mayor have warned against overstating the extent of any planning, stating he is deeply committed to his job as mayor and would solely re-enter 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. Political Landscape and Poll Ratings Against a backdrop of opinion 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 consistently positive public approval ratings. If Mr. Burnham decide to run, several hurdles stand in his way. He would need to be selected by the NEC—where the chances are stacked against him—and then win the byelection against challenges from Reform and independent candidates, all prior to any potential leadership challenge. The 'Stop Andy' Campaign High-ranking Labour sources have indicated that a "Stop Andy" operation 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 "early stages" and told his MPs to stop talking about possible contests for the leadership. 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 reportedly pointed to not only personal animosity towards Mr. Burnham but also the significant expense of a mayoral byelection in Greater Manchester. This could divert around £500,000 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 sources also expressed concerns about Nigel Farage’s party potentially fill any vacancy created by Mr. Burnham, which would represent a major symbolic victory for them. Role of the Unions and Procedural Fears As a publicly elected mayor, Mr. Burnham would require the NEC's permission to run. It is also possible the committee could enforce an all-female shortlist to block his nomination. However, a supporter counselled against presuming the NEC would simply reject him, even though Sir Keir's team is widely thought to control it. The trade unions hold a sizable proportion of seats on the NEC. While the largest unions are currently remaining quiet, insiders suggested they would be opposed to anything perceived as interference 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." Electoral Challenges The constituency in question holds a considerable Labour majority. However, Reform is likely to mount a significant challenge, capitalising on support in one part of the constituency. Labour believes it is on firmer ground 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 requirement that is far from certain given he is regarded with caution by a number of on the parliamentary party. The resigning MP stated he was stepping down due to deteriorating health, which had made it impossible for him to continue in his role. He is also under a parliamentary standards investigation concerning his membership in an offensive online group.