Andy Burnham’s bid to return to Parliament has exposed tensions within Labour, with allies of Sir Keir Starmer reportedly prepared to block the Greater Manchester mayor’s candidacy.
The mayor announced on Saturday that he is seeking permission from Labour’s national executive committee to stand in the Gorton and Denton by-election. The seat became vacant on Friday when Andrew Gwynne stood down as MP on health grounds.
A decision from the NEC is expected on Sunday. However, BBC sources suggest that figures close to the prime minister may move to prevent Burnham’s selection.
Support from Senior Labour Figures
Several prominent Labour politicians have publicly backed Burnham’s candidacy. London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan stated: “If Andy Burnham wants to be a member of Parliament, Andy Burnham should be allowed to be a member of Parliament.”
Deputy Labour leader Lucy Powell used a football analogy to make her case. “I want to make sure we are putting the best team out on the pitch week after week,” she said, adding: “I don’t want to see [Erling] Haaland on the bench,” in reference to the Manchester City player.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband also expressed support, saying Burnham would be “a massive asset in Parliament” and hoped Gorton and Denton party members would have “the option” of selecting him.
Burnham’s Case for Return
In a letter to the NEC shared on social media, Burnham framed his potential candidacy as a defence of Greater Manchester values. “There is a direct threat to everything Greater Manchester has always been about from a brand of politics which seeks to pit people against each other,” he wrote.
He described the by-election as “the frontline of that fight for the Manchester Way” and said he felt obliged “to lead it from the front, despite the risks involved.”
Burnham also explained his motivation for returning to Westminster. “It wasn’t working for people in our part of the world,” he stated. As mayor, he said he had “tried to pioneer a different way of doing things” but believed Manchester “won’t be able to be everything it should be without similar changes at a national level.”
He sought to reassure party leadership of his intentions, writing that his aim was “to support the work of the government, not undermine it.” According to Burnham, he has “passed this assurance on to the prime minister.”
In a separate statement, he said he “wants to back the Labour government not undermine it” and acknowledged the decision to announce had been “difficult.”
Political Implications
If selected and successful in the by-election, Burnham would need to resign as mayor, triggering a fresh mayoral election. The last such contest cost the taxpayer around £4.7 million.
The by-election could potentially take place on 7 May, aligning with scheduled votes for the Welsh Parliament, Scottish Parliament and some English local councils. Such May elections might fuel speculation about a leadership challenge to Starmer.
Labour won Gorton and Denton in 2024 with a majority of 13,000, with Reform UK finishing second and the Green Party third. The seat has traditionally voted Labour, though the party’s popularity has declined since 2024 and it now faces challenges from both Reform UK and the Greens.
Reform UK’s Lee Anderson has already responded to the potential contest, posting a campaigning photograph with the message “bring it on.”
The NEC could block Burnham’s candidacy on the grounds that a mayoral by-election would prove expensive for the party. Several Labour MPs, including Connor Naismith, the member for Crewe and Nantwich, have reacted angrily to suggestions the mayor might be prevented from standing.
Under party rules, Burnham must become an MP before he could mount any future leadership bid.
