Greater Manchester Mayor Blocked from By-Election

Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, has been prevented by his party from running in the upcoming by-election. This decision comes amid speculation that he might leverage a parliamentary seat to challenge Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership.

Burnham, who has spent years in Westminster politics, has recently tried to position himself as a leader from outside London, earning the nickname “King in the North.” Recent reports suggest that former Labour MP Andrew Gwynne will be the candidate for the Gorton and Denton by-election, following the resignation of Andrew Gwyn over some controversial leaked messages regarding British voters.

In response to his potential candidacy, Burnham indicated that if he were to return to Parliament, his intention would be to “support the government’s efforts, not undermine them.” He mentioned discussing this assurance with the Prime Minister.

However, Burnham required permission from the Labour Party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) to leave his current role and enter the election. On Sunday, the NEC’s special committee, with Prime Minister Starmer among its members, voted 8-1 against his candidacy.

This decision stands in contrast to the backing he received from other prominent Labour figures, including Energy Secretary Ed Miliband and former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, who had publicly supported his ambitions to contest the vacancy.

Blocking Burnham’s candidacy might have temporarily thwarted a leadership challenge from him. Still, it’s worth noting that he would need to be a sitting MP to replace Starmer as leader. Any narratives suggesting that Starmer intervened to prevent the popular mayor from running could lead to a backlash within the party and raise questions about Starmer’s own position.

Interestingly, Burnham isn’t the only one reportedly eyeing leadership; names like Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, have also emerged, with Streeting allegedly garnering support from around 200 Labour MPs for a potential leadership bid.

This internal strife within Labour surfaces right before significant local elections in May—Starmer’s first major test since taking charge last year. A poor performance against Nigel Farage’s Reform Britain could catalyze a more extensive leadership challenge.

The government’s approval ratings have recently dipped, largely due to its struggles with critical concerns like the economy and immigration. A recent poll revealed that only 12% of voters were satisfied with the government’s handling of these issues. Consequently, many believe that Starmer might face pressure to resign by the year’s end.