ANDY Burnham’s attempt to return to Parliament as an MP crashed and burned yesterday — triggering a Labour civil war.
The party’s ruling body blocked after an appeal by — whose leadership the move threatened.
Andy Burnham, pictured with mum Eileen, was blocked from entering the Gorton and Denton by-electionCredit: Zenpix
In a veiled threat to the PM, Mr Burnham said he had tried ‘to prevent the divisive politics of Reform’Credit: Getty
Sir Keir lit the fuse of a bloody Labour civil war as he crushed Mr Burnham’s comeback to ParliamentCredit: PA
In a veiled threat to the PM, Mr Burnham said he had tried “to prevent the divisive politics of Reform”.
was blocked from entering the Gorton and Denton by a key panel of Labour’s ruling body, which included the Prime Minister.
The National Executive Committee voted 8-1 against letting him stand, with party deputy leader the only member backing him.
The ruling has detonated fury across — with MPs accusing Sir Keir of a shameless stitch-up to kill off a potential leadership rival.
Mr Burnham tonight said he was “disappointed” by the NEC’s decision and, in a veiled threat to the PM, added he was “concerned about its potential impact on the important elections ahead of us”.
But he said the Labour candidate would have his full support.
He added: “Tomorrow, I return with full focus to my role as Mayor of GM, defending everything we have built in our city-region over many years.
“I decided to put myself forward to prevent the divisive politics of Reform from damaging that.
“We are stronger together and let’s stay that way.”
He also took a dig at Sir Keir as he complained the media was told of the decision before him.
We’ll all come to regret this. This is an incredibly disappointing decision
Louise Haigh
He said: “(It) tells you everything you need to know about the way the Labour Party is being run these days.
“You would think that over 30 years of service would count for something, but sadly not.”
Former Cabinet minister yesterday urged the Prime Minister to reverse course, warning: “We’ll all come to regret this.”
She said: “There’s no point pretending we don’t have a problem connecting with the public at the minute.
“The leadership should not feel threatened by having one of the most popular politicians in the country as part of the national team.
Andy Burnham said: ‘(It) tells you everything you need to know about the way the Labour Party is being run these days’Credit: Zenpix
Louise Haigh said: ‘We’ll all come to regret this. This is an incredibly disappointing decision’Credit: Getty
Steve Reed said: ‘It’s because of the huge inconvenience to two million voters across Greater Manchester’Credit: Sky News
“It’s not too late to change course and make the right decision.”
Former Shadow Chancellor said it was a “disgusting decision” that would “hasten [Sir Keir’s] demise”.
A senior Labour MP told The Sun: “The Prime Minister looks like a mortally wounded man who can’t bear to open his eyes and confront what’s in front of him.
“It’s all when and who now, not if. It’s also a middle finger up at the North.”
added: “There’ll be a lot of bloodletting in the Parliamentary Labour Party.”
also blasted the decision.
(It) tells you everything you need to know about the way the Labour Party is being run these days
Andy Burnham
said: “This isn’t the way a democratic organisation should be run. Now’s the time to unite our movement, not divide it.”
The TSSA union accused the NEC of acting for “factional reasons”.
It added: “Labour’s lost its way and must change its path to survive.”
Mr Burnham, spotted out with mum Eileen yesterday, announced his intention to stand on Saturday.
The audacious move would have sent him back to for the first time since 2017 and put him within striking distance of the top job.
But he needed NEC approval, and the PM and his loyalists moved quickly to close the door on him.
Mr Burnham, dubbed the ‘King of the North’, was backed by several big Labour namesCredit: AP
Lucy Powell was the only member backing Burnham with the National Executive Committee voting 8-1 against letting him standCredit: Alamy
It is understood Sir Keir “led from the front” during the meeting, setting out a three-point case for shutting Mr Burnham out.
He argued Mr Burnham had previously promised to serve a full second term as Greater Manchester mayor and that the leadership “psychodrama” of the past 48 hours would spill into .
He also said Labour could not justify spending taxpayers’ money on an unnecessary mayoral race.
NEC member and Housing Secretary said: “They’ve decided against it because of the huge inconvenience to two million voters across Greater Manchester of having a by-election for a new Mayor if he were to move forward.”
Mr Burnham, dubbed the “King of the North”, was backed by several big Labour names.
Ms Powell, and all urged the NEC to let him run, with the Energy Secretary calling him a “massive asset in Parliament”.
The Prime Minister looks like a mortally wounded man who can’t bare to open his eyes and confront what’s in front of him. It’s all when and who now, not if. It’s also a middle finger up at the north
A senior Labour MP
More than a dozen Labour MPs had also spoken out against blocking Mr Burnham, with scores more privately cheering on his return.
Some senior party figures fear the decision could embolden other potential challengers, including and , by removing the most obvious Northern heavyweight from the battlefield — but creating an even deeper grievance among members.
Supporters of Mr Streeting at the weekend boasted he would still have roughly 200 Labour MPs behind him in a leadership battle, even with Mr Burnham in the frame.
But a spokesman for the Health Secretary said it was news to him.
The by-election was triggered after MP Andrew Gwynne said he would quit Parliament on health grounds.
Angela Rayner had previously thrown her support behind Mr BurnhamCredit: Getty
Mr Burnham announced his audacious bid to return to ParliamentCredit: Getty No-win dilemma for a PM on rack
SIR Keir Starmer was boxed in from the start.
Allowing Andy Burnham to stand would have meant signing his own political death warrant.
It would have given the Manchester Mayor a direct route back to Westminster and a platform to challenge him for the leadership of the country.
Blocking him was always the least-damaging option for a Prime Minister already fighting sliding polls and grumbling backbench MPs.
But that doesn’t make it safe.
Shutting out one of Labour’s biggest Northern beasts is a huge gamble that risks detonating the bloodiest round of internal warfare Labour has seen.
Burnham’s supporters will see this as a naked act of self-preservation and proof Starmer is nervous about rivals circling.
The decision also hands Burnham a new grievance and the likelihood of a bigger base of supporters.
Meanwhile, will seize on every scrap of Labour infighting to hammer the PM across the party’s traditional Northern heartlands.
And if Labour now loses the vacant seat of Gorton and Denton, knows he will have to own every inch of the fallout.
He may have avoided one threat yesterday but could have blown Labour apart in the process.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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