Andy Burnham newest: Starmer warned to let Manchester mayor stand as MP or face revolt as deadline looms | EUROtoday

It wouldn’t be the primary time that the mayor of a giant metropolis went on to turn into head of their nation’s authorities, although it’s uncommon, writes Sean O’Grady.

Three US presidents have carried out so (Andrew Johnson, Grover Cleveland, Calvin Coolidge), and in Europe there are the extremely notable examples of Chancellor Willy Brandt (graduating from West Berlin), and Jacques Chirac (Paris).

Here, after all, we noticed Boris Johnson perfecting his populist abilities in London earlier than, sooner or later, graduating to the premiership. The query for 2026 is whether or not Andy Burnham could make an identical journey from his mayoral HQ on the Tootal Building in Manchester to 10 Downing Street.

The upcoming by-election within the often protected Labour seat of Gorton, properly inside Burnham’s northern fiefdom, opens up a minimum of the chance that Burnham may repeat Johnson’s feat.

Read extra about who ‘King of the North’ Andy Burnham is right here:

Speculation has been rising this week that the Mayor of Greater Manchester is searching for a return to Westminster after suspended Labour MP, Andrew Gwynne, stood down from his Gorton and Denton seat, leaving the door open for Mr Burnham to face within the upcoming by-election.

There have lengthy been fears that any return would see Mr Burnham problem Sir Keir for the highest job, as Labour’s recognition wanes and the social gathering lags behind Reform within the polls.

Sir Sadiq Khan mentioned Andy Burnham ought to be allowed to face to be an MP, including he could be keen to marketing campaign for the Greater Manchester mayor.

The Mayor of London instructed the Fabian Society convention in London: “I think if Andy Burnham wants to be a member of Parliament, Andy Burnham should be allowed to be a member of Parliament.

“I’m a firm believer in the best team having all the talent playing for them, and if Andy wants to return to Parliament, I will try and make some time between now and the by-election to knock on some doors for him, or whoever the candidate is.”

Chris Webb, Labour MP for Blackpool South, has mentioned that the social gathering are in want of “super sub” Andy Burnham to run on the Gorton and Denton by-election.

Posting to X, Mr Webb mentioned: “Our members are the lifeblood of our party and the NEC exists to serve them, not factions.

“Blocking Andy Burnham from Gorton and Denton will have serious lasting consequences.

“When you’re 2-0 down at half time, you bring on the super sub to help the team win.”

Nadia Whittome, Labour MP for Nottingham East, has mentioned that Labour dangers “putting petty factionalism before the country” if Andy Burnham is blocked from operating in an upcoming by-election.

Writing on social media on Saturday, Ms Whittome echoed different MPs who’ve mentioned that native members ought to be capable to “freely choose their candidate for Gorton and Denton”.

She added: “Sorry but if the most unpopular Labour government in history intervenes to block our only senior Labour politician with a net positive public approval rating – in doing so risking handing victory to a far right party – that’s putting petty factionalism before the country.

“The last person at Labour HQ had better turn the lights off on their way out.”

Former shadow chancellor John McDonnell has mentioned {that a} “clique” of advisers round Sir Keir Starmer are behind the obvious plot to cease Andy Burnham operating as an MP.

In a thread posted to X on Saturday, Mr McDonnell blamed “incompetent, self-interested control freaks” across the prime minister for inflicting injury to the Labour social gathering.

He mentioned that the Burnham row was “a straight-foward power without principle struggle waged by the clique of advisers around Keir Starmer”.

He added: “My view is that the major political errors that have caused such problems for the party over the last 18 months have come as a result of the group think of a small group of relatively inexperienced advisers surrounding Keir and Rachel Reeves.

“They are part of the Westminster bubble cut off from the emotions and beliefs of our rank and file party supporters.”

Mr McDonnell mentioned these advisers are “virtually out of control” and mentioned that blocking Mr Burnham from operating as an MP would “cause immense damage to both Keir and therefore the party”.

He warned in opposition to the results of shedding the by-election if Mr Burnham isn’t allowed to run.

Andy Burnham has lengthy been seen as a possible rival to Sir Keir Starmer, writes Whitehall Editor Kate Devlin.

But he now faces a make or break second on his management ambitions.

Failure to face, or being blocked by Labour’s highly effective ruling physique from changing into the candidate, would certainly be the tip of his hopes of changing into PM earlier than any common election.

But it is usually a second of excessive hazard for Sir Keir. Already his deputy social gathering chief has warned Burnham shouldn’t be blocked.

Claims of a ‘stitch up’ would essentially weaken the beleaguered PM’s place even additional – with Labour MPs warning he may even face a management problem consequently.

Jo White, Labour MP for Bassetlaw, took to social media final evening to warn in opposition to a “London stitch up” within the Gordon and Denton by-election.

She wrote on X: “Let the North decide who their Labour candidate should be for the Gorton and Denton by-election. A London stitch up will be a disaster for Labour”.

Connor Naismith, MP for Crewe and Nantwich, had an identical argument, writing: “Gorton and Denton deserves the best possible choice of candidates. I agree with the prime minister that our attention should be on delivering for the public, not speculating about future leadership contests.

“Any decision made to limit the choice would be wrong”.

New 12 months, new Keir. At least, that was the plan.

The prime minister began 2026 with a “promise of renewal” and a vow the UK would flip a nook after a dismal first full 12 months in energy. In a video launched on New Year’s Day, he pledged to convey down dwelling prices and get Britain “back on track”, in an try and rescue his relationship with disillusioned voters and his personal disgruntled MPs.

Well, simply over three weeks into the brand new 12 months, it’s truthful to say Sir Keir Starmer hasn’t began as he’d hoped. While the prime minister’s allies may declare his consideration has been diverted by the continued worldwide crises over Venezuela and Greenland, this 12 months has began very similar to final 12 months ended.

There have been extra humiliating U-turns – on enterprise charges for pubs and obligatory digital ID, Labour stays stagnant within the polls, miles behind Nigel Farage’s Reform, and murmurings about whether or not Starmer is the fitting man to guide the social gathering have grown louder, write Kate Devlin and David Maddox.

Read extra from our Whitehall Editor and Politics Editor right here:

Labour’s deputy chief Lucy Powell appeared to warn in opposition to blocking Andy Burnham from standing within the Gorton and Denton by-election on Saturday, saying the choice ought to be left to native members.

Speaking on the Fabian Society’s annual convention in London, Ms Powell didn’t explicitly name for Mr Burnham to face for the seat, saying he must make up his personal thoughts.

She added: “It should be up to Andy and the local members who will select their candidate, and our members are very discerning.”

Speculation has surrounded a doable return to Westminster for the mayor of Greater Manchester since Andrew Gwynne introduced he would resign as an MP on well being grounds on Thursday.

Mr Burnham, who’s broadly believed to have ambitions to guide the social gathering, is but to touch upon whether or not he intends to face.

But if he does put himself ahead, he should apply to Labour’s nationwide government committee (NEC) for permission to take action by 5pm on Saturday.

Reports have steered that supporters of the Prime Minister on the NEC might search to dam his candidacy, both out of concern it might destabilise the federal government or to forestall one other by-election for the Greater Manchester mayoralty.