Labour at war after Starmer blocks Andy Burnham’s Commons comeback bid
Sir Keir Starmer has blocked Andy Burnham’s bid to return to Westminster in a political gamble that risks sparking civil war within the Labor Party.
The Prime Minister, along with other members of the governing body of the party’s powerful National Executive Committee (NEC), voted by 8 votes to 1 to reject a request for his potential leadership rival to be allowed to stand in the Gorton and Denton by-elections.
The party said in a statement that permission was refused at a meeting that lasted just an hour to prevent an “unnecessary election” to appoint Mr Burnham as mayor of Greater Manchester.
But the move sparked anger among many Labor MPs, who warned their leaders that the decision, which ignored calls from senior party figures to allow Mr Burnham to stand, appeared weak, would trigger “bloodshed” and “hasten your demise”. Mr Burnham has not yet commented.
The decision blocks Mr Burnham’s attempt to return to the House of Commons, at least in the short term; As the party continues to lag behind Reform in the polls, many see him as the man who could replace Sir Keir in the event of a leadership fight.
Former Cabinet minister Louise Haigh said the decision was “incredibly disappointing” and called for a U-turn on the NEC, “otherwise I think we will all regret it”.
Suspended Labor MP Diane Abbott said blocking Mr Burnham made Sir Keir look “weak”, while the party’s former shadow chancellor John McDonnell condemned the reasoning as an “insult to people’s intelligence” as he attacked the “political idiots” advising the Prime Minister and predicted the decision would “accelerate” his fall from power.
Karl Turner, the Labor MP for Kingston upon Hull East, also told Times Radio: “There will be a lot of bloodshed in the Parliamentary Labor Party as a result of this decision.”
And John McTernan, Tony Blair’s former political secretary, said: Independent: “At a time when Labor has been historically unpopular, it is a selfish mistake to deny the survival of the most popular Labor politician in the country. This leaves this by-election as a showcase for insurgent parties on the left and right.”
There was also a harsh reaction from unions affiliated with the Labor Party.
Andrea Egan, the new general secretary of Unison, one of Labour’s biggest supporters, said: “I know many unionists will be very disappointed and angry that local members are not being given a say in who their candidate should be. This is not the way any democratic organization should be run.”
The Transport Salaried Staff Association (TSSA) also called on the party to “change course”.
But the Prime Minister’s allies hit back.
Housing secretary Steve Reed said voters had elected Mr Burnham as mayor for a four-year term in 2024 and they “didn’t like” by-elections.
“So we’re not going to go back and ask the people of Greater Manchester, who have over two million people eligible to vote, to elect someone else to finish the next two (years) because we can choose a different candidate for the Gorton and Denton by-elections and we will defend the Labor government,” he said.
Rugby MP John Slinger said the “swift and clear decision” meant the party could “move on from the damaging, introspective and psychodrama of last week” and “come together” behind the eventual candidate.
The Usdaw union also said it accepted the decision and accepted the “major disruption consequence that Andy Burnham’s departure from his current role will create”.
He called on the party to “stay united and focus on delivering the change that was promised and that the country voted for.”
Senior figures in the party, including Ed Miliband, Angela Rayner and deputy leader Lucy Powell, had publicly backed Mr Burnham standing as an MP. However, only Ms. Powell had the right to vote at the meeting.
While others, including the Prime Minister, lined up to vote against Mr Burnham, he was defeated 8-1.
Home Minister Shabana Mahmood abstained and sources said this was customary as she chaired the debate. But being able to tell Labor MPs and members that he did not vote to block Mr Burnham will help him with what his allies see as his own leadership ambitions. He has previously called on his party to avoid Conservative Party-style “psychodrama”.
Before the decision, the NEC had called for a “pause” in the process due to fears of stitches, according to a letter leaked by the BBC.
Appearing on the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg program on Sunday, Ms Mahmood was told the company had been leaked a draft letter written by the full NEC arguing that “any attempt to exclude certain candidates would be seen as undemocratic interference”. He also said the current timeline “should be paused to include the entire NEC committee in determining that timeline and that process.”
Ms Mahmood responded by saying the party followed “normal practice” for election decisions. He also said it was not unusual for the party to have “major electoral controversies”.
Mr Burnham had faced increasing backlash from Labor MPs overnight for his decision to throw his hat in the ring.
Scottish Labor MP Joani Reid made her objections public, warning that “it’s an energy-draining distraction, so most of us would probably prefer Andy Burnham to stay out of it.”
Tom Rutland, Labor MP for East Worthing and Shoreham, also tweeted: “Those who choose to stand for election in 2024 for different positions – with significant responsibilities and mandates from their constituents – should remain in those positions.”
