The Labour Party's ruling national executive committee is scheduled to make a crucial decision today regarding whether to allow Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, to stand in a forthcoming parliamentary by-election. Concerns have emerged among allies of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer that Burnham's return to Westminster could pave the way for a leadership challenge.
Announcing his intention to return to the House of Commons, Burnham, who previously served as a cabinet minister under Gordon Brown, emphasized his commitment to support the Labour government rather than undermine it. However, there has been strong backlash from several Labour MPs against the idea of blocking his candidacy, with the committee expected to convene at 11:00 GMT to reach a decision.
The parliamentary seat in Greater Manchester has become available following Andrew Gwynne's resignation due to health reasons. As a directly-elected mayor, Burnham requires the approval of Labour's ruling national executive committee to enter the by-election as the party's candidate. This decision presents a significant dilemma for the Prime Minister and his supporters, as they weigh the risks of excluding a popular mayor from a challenging by-election against the possibility of Burnham initiating a leadership challenge if allowed to return to Westminster.
Currently, indications suggest that allies of the Prime Minister aim to block Burnham's candidacy during the NEC meeting. The willingness to face the political fallout from such a decision underscores the seriousness with which they view any potential threat to the Prime Minister's leadership.
In a letter shared on social media, Burnham articulated his motivations, stating there was a "direct threat to everything Greater Manchester has always been about from a brand of politics which seeks to pit people against each other." He mentioned leaving Westminster almost a decade ago due to its ineffectiveness for his region and highlighted his efforts as mayor to establish a different political approach. Despite this, Burnham expressed a growing necessity to return to the national stage to advocate for similar changes on a broader scale.