Keir Starmer has justified the move to block Andy Burnham’s return to Parliament and downplayed any tensions between them.
Over the weekend, Andy Burnham was denied the opportunity to contest the Gorton and Denton by-election, causing backlash among Labour MPs. The Mayor of Greater Manchester, who has been rumored to have aspirations for party leadership, was rejected by a core faction of the party’s national executive committee (NEC).
Addressing reporters today, the Prime Minister emphasized the upcoming crucial elections in England, Wales, and Scotland that will impact millions of citizens. He stressed the need to focus all resources on these essential elections, highlighting that Andy Burnham is excelling as the mayor of Manchester but holding an unnecessary mayoral election would divert attention from critical electoral battles.
The Prime Minister further expressed his strong working relationship with Andy Burnham, citing past collaborations on significant projects and events. He lauded Burnham’s performance and highlighted their effective partnership.
Responding to the situation, Andy Burnham refrained from making detailed comments and emphasized his dedication to his role as Mayor of Greater Manchester.
In a separate development, Labour backbencher Kim Johnson criticized the NEC’s decision to block Burnham from standing in the Manchester seat, urging Keir Starmer to reassess his leadership position within the party.
A 10-member panel of Labour’s NEC voted 8 to 1 to prevent Burnham from running, with only Deputy Leader Lucy Powell in favor. The Prime Minister had personally opposed Burnham’s candidacy.
Following the decision, Burnham expressed disappointment and raised concerns about its implications for upcoming elections. He highlighted the manner in which the media was informed before he was, criticizing the internal processes within the Labour Party.
Supporters of the Prime Minister argued that allowing Burnham to run would incur unnecessary costs for a mayoral by-election and potentially fuel further leadership speculations during a critical period.