Starmer is cornered: As Andy Burnham throws his hat into the ring for a plum Labour seat, the beleaguered Prime Minister faces a stark choice – block him or face a leadership challenge

Labor was plunged further into civil war tonight as Andy Burnham announced his bid to become an MP, the first step in challenging Keir Starmer’s fragile leadership.

In an 11th-hour move that sent shockwaves through Westminster, the self-described ‘King in the North’ announced he wanted to fight a close by-election for Labor, backing the Prime Minister into a strategic corner.

Sir Keir’s allies risk leading the party into a bitter leadership race if they allow Mr Burnham to take the Gorton and Denton seat vacated by disgraced former minister Andrew Gwynne. If they block him, fissures within the ranks will flare up further and there is a risk of the Prime Minister appearing as a coward.

As Mayor of Manchester, Mr Burnham needed permission from Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) to contest the by-election; He made this move just before the end of the deadline at 17:00 yesterday.

The Mail on Sunday understands he made his approach after gaining the support of more than 100 Labor MPs; This would be enough to trigger a formal challenge to the Prime Minister if he returns to Parliament.

On a day of extraordinary political drama:

• Angela Rayner has been told Mr Burnham would make a shock return to frontline politics after being promised her former post as Deputy Prime Minister as well as another Cabinet post if she got into No 10;
• Nigel Farage has vowed that Reform will derail Mr Burnham’s return to Westminster by winning the by-election; but an expert analysis for the MoS predicts that this decision will fall to the Green Party;
• If he becomes MP, Mr Burnham will trigger a Greater Manchester mayoral election that will cost taxpayers almost £5m.

The move will be the first step in challenging Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership (pictured January 23)

Ten members of the NEC ‘civil servants committee’ will now decide whether Mr Burnham can contest the by-election. The panel, which is expected to meet tomorrow, is packed with Sir Keir’s supporters, but denying Mr Burnham the chance to stand would risk the Prime Minister appearing weak.

Mr Burnham’s supporters fear his absence from Sir Keir’s visit to China this week could embolden the NEC, chaired by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, a Starmer loyalist, to block his rival. Speculation was mounting tonight that the NEC could implement either an all-female or an all-black, Asian and ethnic minority shortlist to thwart Mr Burnham’s ambitions of contesting the seat.

But the mayor’s supporters warned any attempt to undermine his return to Westminster would be an ‘insult to democracy’ and accused Sir Keir of being ‘afraid’ of the leadership fight.

Mr Burnham published his letter to the NEC on social media site X at 5pm sharp today. In his article he said it was a ‘difficult decision’ but that he had ‘thought it out carefully’ in the best interests of Labor and Manchester.

He said he wanted to run a ‘hopeful and unifying campaign’, although his maneuvers were likely to have divisive effects.

Mr Burnham insisted: ‘I will be there to support the work of the Government, not undermine it, and I have conveyed that assurance to the Prime Minister.’

Mr Burnham’s potential path to the leadership was opened when Mr Gwynne stood down as an MP last week.

It comes a year after The Mail on Sunday revealed the MP was part of a WhatsApp group called Trigger Me Timbers, which shared vile racist, sexist and anti-Semitic jokes. Number 10 sacked him as Health Secretary and he was suspended from the Labor Party.

The Mail on Sunday previously revealed in December that Angela Rayner (pictured September 25, 2024) had ‘made a deal’ to be Mr Burnham’s running mate.

Mr Burnham’s supporters fear Sir Keir’s absence from his visit to China this week could embolden the NEC, chaired by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood (pictured 16 November 2025)

Announcing his departure from the House of Commons, Mr Gwynne cited long-term health problems that had been ‘exacerbated by the events of the past year’.

If elected as an MP, Mr Burnham would be in a position to launch a leadership challenge against Sir Keir; This is likely to be triggered if Labor suffers the devastating losses it is expected to endure in May’s local elections.

The MoS revealed in December that Angela Rayner had ‘made a deal’ to be Mr Burnham’s running mate.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting is seen by Mr Burnham’s supporters as his only credible rival in the event of a leadership race.

The NEC is facing pressure to allow Mr Burnham to stand. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband told the Fabian Society conference today: ‘I very much hope that the local party will have the option of choosing Andy as their candidate.’

Last week Labor MPs told the MoS that Mr Miliband would support Mr Burnham’s expected challenge on the understanding that Mr Burnham would become Chancellor if he won. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan also backed Mr Burnham’s bid to become an MP, saying: ‘I firmly believe in a top team with all the talent playing for them.’

And Labor deputy leader Lucy Powell, Sir Keir’s long-time thorn in the side, said the decision on whether Mr Burnham should run ‘should be up to Andy and local members’.

Blackpool South MP Chris Webb said of X: ‘Our members are the lifeblood of our party and the NEC exists to serve them, not factions. Andy Burnham’s ban from Gorton & Denton will have serious and lasting consequences. ‘When you’re 2-0 down at half-time, you bring in the super substitute to help the team win.’

Health Minister Wes Streeting (pictured January 13) is received by Mr Burnham’s supporters

Jarrow and Gateshead East MP Kate Osborne added: ‘We don’t need factionalism before the party; ‘It would be a mistake and very poor to exclude Andy Burnham if he wants to stay afloat.’

But others seemed determined to thwart Mr. Burnham. A member of the NEC reportedly told BBC Newsnight correspondent Matt Chorley: ‘If I have anything to do with this, he won’t be the candidate. ‘I don’t stand a chance.’

Labor MP Graham Stringer accused Mr Burnham of ‘taking a huge risk to his own career and the future of the Labor Party in Manchester’.

Applications to be candidates for the Labor Party in the by-election close at midnight tonight.

In a rapid timeline that critics believe has been kept deliberately short to thwart Mr Burnham, a long list of candidates, possibly as many as six, will be drawn up by a selection panel on Monday, shortlist interviews will be held on Tuesday and auditions and tryouts will be held next Saturday.

Labor insiders estimate that organizing and fighting both the Westminster by-election and the Greater Manchester mayoral vote could cost the party £1.5 million.

Even if the NEC allows him to fight the by-election, Mr Burnham will face a strong challenge from the Reform and Green Party.

A special analysis commissioned by the MoS, which took into account the latest poll data, predicted the seat could fall to the Greens.

But the study also shows that Reform would win if the Conservatives agreed not to stand; This is a prediction that will fuel calls for unity among parties on the Right.

Analysis shows that the two parties will win another 81 seats between them if they reach an agreement against the Left in the next general election.