"Burnage Voters Speak Out: Why Everyone's Backing Reform After Burnham's MP Bid Gets Blocked"

HERE in Burnage, folk are used to warring family members battling over the future of a cherished British institution.

For the south neighbourhood was the early stomping ground of brothers and .

Andy Burnham’s bid to stand in the Gorton and Denton by-election was blocked by the PM, who feared it would lead to a leadership challengeCredit: PA Now the civil war could see Nigel Farage’s Reform win the once rock-solid Labour seat of which Burnage is a partCredit: Reuters

Now, it’s Labour’s supposed brothers-in-arms and scrapping it out.

The PM blocked Manchester’s mayor from standing in the , fearing it would lead to a leadership challenge.

Now the civil war could see , or even , win the once rock-solid Labour seat of which Burnage is a part.

Unemployed Peter Barnes, 46, said: “I’d rather have Andy Burnham than Keir Starmer, all day long.

“But round where I live, everyone’s voting Reform.

“Farage is a decent bloke and I believe he will deliver on his promises.”

Many in ranks regard Burnham as a natural, charismatic frontman like Liam and see Starmer as a busted flush.

At the shops close to the Gallaghers’ old family home, nurse Angela, who didn’t want to give her second name, said: “I’m disappointed. I would have liked Burnham as my MP.

“He’s a really good politician and answers the questions put to him.”

The mum of three, 54, who went to the same school as Liam Gallagher, said: “Starmer isn’t as charismatic as people would like.

I’d rather have Andy Burnham than Keir Starmer, all day long

Peter Barnes

“Some I know will vote Reform. I’ll always vote Labour.”

At the 2024 , won more than 50 per cent of the vote followed by Reform on 14, the Greens on 13 and at just under eight per cent.

Burnham would probably have taken the seat but the Greens and Labour may split the left-wing vote and gift Reform victory.

Starmerites believe they had to neuter Burnham or risk months of him dominating headlines and creating a Tory-style leadership “psychodrama”.

Hairdresser Katie Chisnall, 37, said of Starmer’s premiership: “It’s not good. I’m self-employed, I have to work nearly every day to make ends meet. Farage could win here. He’s a character.”

Former Health Secretary Burnham revealed on Saturday that he planned to step down as mayor and fight the seat after MP Andrew Gwynne quit on health grounds.

Peter Barnes said: ‘I’d rather have Andy Burnham than Keir Starmer, all day long’Credit: Andy Kelvin / Kelvinmedia Katie Chisnall said of Starmer’s premiership: ‘It’s not good. Farage could win here. He’s a character’Credit: Andy Kelvin / Kelvinmedia Taxi driver Raja Ahmed believes Starmer made the right decisionCredit: Andy Kelvin / Kelvinmedia

Victory would have given him the opportunity to oust the PM.

But Starmer — for once clinically decisive — blocked the move, with his cronies on Labour’s National Executive Committee (NEC) doing the deed on Sunday.

Taxi driver Raja Ahmed, 40, believes Starmer made the right decision.

Raja, who arrived in the UK from Pakistan 14 years ago, said: “Burnham has been a good mayor but wouldn’t make a good Prime Minister.

“They need to be good at international relations and Burnham’s only good for local issues.”

Retired sub-postmaster Paul Robinson, 85, said: “I’m glad Andy Burnham is staying in Manchester. He’s livened the place up a bit.

Starmer isn’t as charismatic as people would like

Nurse Angela

“We’ve got a record-breaking turnover in the centre of town.”

Shopping at in Burnage, retired English teacher Celia Peera, 89, believes that — like the ­Gallaghers — and Starmer would be better off working together.

She said: “Starmer would have been stronger with Burnham.

“I think they would have had a better chance wooing the public together.

“I believe Burnham is honourable and would have let Starmer finish his term before jostling for a chance to be PM.”

His ambitions thwarted, at least for now, it seems Burnham is struggling with that old Oasis maxim: Don’t look back in anger.

Here in Burnage, folk are used to warring family members battling over the future of a cherished British institutionCredit: Andy Kelvin / Kelvinmedia The south Manchester neighbourhood was the early stomping ground of Oasis brothers Liam and Noel GallagherCredit: Andy Kelvin / Kelvinmedia