Downing Street accused of plot to derail Andy Burnham’s by-election hopes

Allies of the mayor of Greater Manchester have claimed Downing Street is involved in a plot to dash Andy Burnham’s hopes of returning to parliament.

Fears have grown that the Labor leadership will offer “soft game” support to Mr Burnham in the by-election, asking MPs to campaign for him but not putting in place a three-row whip.

Labor MPs have also been told by the beleaguered prime minister’s allies that Mr Burnham could bring back former leader Jeremy Corbyn, who was expelled from the party in 2024 over a row over antisemitism.

Many Labor supporters believe the party has no chance in Makerfield, where Reform recently won almost all of the council’s seats. Sources say Reform was planning to name local plumber and councilor Robert Kenyon as its candidate, but it was announced that it would be Dr Kenyon, who resigned as party leader on Monday afternoon. David Bull stated that it could be.

A source close to Sir Keir admitted Mr Burnham would “almost certainly become prime minister” if he wins at Makerfield.

Poll experts Professor Sir John Curtice and Lord Robert Hayward also said Mr Burnham would become the next Labor leader if he wins the by-election.

Allies of former health secretary Wes Streeting have scoffed at the idea that blocking Mr Burnham’s election would save the prime minister, warning that thousands of activists are ready to campaign for a candidate ready to unseat him.

But in a sign the row could escalate, a close ally of the prime minister said: “You should look at what the cost is to the Socialist Campaign Group on the left for support for Andy. It could bring back Corbyn and take a tough line on Israel. How does that work now, with the problem of antisemitism at its peak, especially with the attack in Manchester? That’s what our colleagues need to be thinking about.”

Sir Keir said on Monday he would “100 per cent” support whoever Labor candidate is for the seat, which is seen as a two-horse race between Reform and Labour.

However, he emphasized that he would not set a timetable for his departure.

When asked about the withdrawal date, he said: “I will not do it. It is clear that this is a very important by-election.”

“Can I be really frank, as do my team, this is a fight between Labor and Reform, it’s a very important fight.

“I’ll be 100 per cent behind whoever the candidate is – they haven’t quite been elected yet, but they will be soon – whoever the Labor candidate is. I’ll be behind them 100 per cent.”

Meanwhile, a furious deputy prime minister David Lammy accused Labor MPs of “scoring a spectacular own goal” and “shooting ourselves in the foot” by trying to sack Sir Keir.

But a key ally of Mr Burnham on the left of the party said: Independent: “Anyone who thought that the political culture in Labor and No 10, the culture that brought Peter Mandelson to office, had somehow died with the departure of Morgan and Mandelson, now knows the answer.

“The party, its members, its voters and the country deserve better than a politics governed by cliques, patronage and self-preservation. This culture has already done enough damage.”

Meanwhile, Mr Burnham gave a major speech in Leeds that was seen by many as setting out the agenda for whether he would become prime minister.

He made little secret of his passion; He made a confident speech to tell his audience that he wanted to talk about the “major changes” he believed were needed in the way Britain was governed.

He also said that if he is elected in the by-election, a vote for him is “a vote to make life more affordable again… to strengthen places… to re-industrialise”.

Prof Curtice said: “Burnham will [as Labour leader] If he wins at Makerfield.

“It’s not very popular within the Labor Party to take to the streets. It’s hard to see how it will win.”

“So if Burnham isn’t in the race, it’s probably Rayner rather than Miliband. And Rayner beats Starmer by a very narrow margin, so it depends on whether he can persuade the party to support him.”

Lord Hayward suggested Mr Streeting’s intervention in rejoining the EU was the only thing that could derail Mr Burnham in a strong Leave-voting constituency.

He said: “When Andy Burnham announced I immediately thought he would win, not by a huge margin but I thought he would get over the line as he is so well known in the Greater Manchester area. “This was despite Reform sweeping the seat in Wigan in the last local election.

“But I changed my mind when Wes Streeting made his speech and called for the UK to rejoin the EU. I think Andy Burnham could now lose because it was a pro-leave seat. It’s not a sure thing but there are serious doubts he will win.”

“Seems like a smart move by Streeting to sabotage Burnham’s chances.”

A close ally of the Prime Minister has warned that Sir Keir believes the “incredibly broad” coalition of support for Mr Burnham within the Labor Party is “already falling apart”.

The source noted that the right-wing Blue Labor campaign group, with its pro-Israel, anti-immigration and anti-trans stance, has backed the mayor of Greater Manchester, along with the Socialist Campaign Group, which is anti-Israel, opposes immigration measures and supports trans rights.

“It’s only been three days [by-election] The campaign and this coalition of support are already falling apart. Andy can’t keep it together with personality alone. He will have to make decisions about positions and compromises. “This will upset different fans.”

The source added: “The Brexit issue is a classic one for Andy. He can’t say he wants to rejoin the EU but he doesn’t want to talk about it from a Leave seat in a by-election. “You can’t avoid the questions.

“Our positions have been through difficult compromises and the Prime Minister has supported that, and Andy will need to do the same.”

But an ally of Mr Streeting said: Independent: “If Starmer thinks stopping Andy will save him, he is wrong.

“We have been defeated by hundreds [council] Candidates are waiting to campaign against the Prime Minister because they are so angry.

“Even if Burnham lose at Makerfield, Wes will definitely survive and from the feedback I have received I am confident he will beat Starmer.”