Labour’s ‘King of the North’ blocked from standing as MP
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham, seen by many as a future challenger to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, has been blocked from standing in the Gorton and Denton by-election by the Labour National Electoral Committee.
Burnham, dubbed by his supporters as the ‘King of the North’ has achieved widespread popularity during his ongoing tenure as Manchester’s mayor, both with his constituents and many Labour Party MPs, several of whom see him as a potential future candidate for the party’s leadership.
To begin his return to Westminster, Burnham aimed to stand as a candidate for MP in the Gorton and Denton by-election. If he was to win this election and join the ranks of Labour MPs in Westminster, he would have to resign as Mayor of Greater Manchester.
To enter the candidate selection process for this by-election requires permission from the party’s NEC, however, which voted eight to one to stop Burnham from standing.
Reasons cited by some Labour MPs who supported the decision to block Burnham from running included the need to avoid ‘months of psychodrama’, and Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander argued on BBC Breakfast that the resulting contest for Greater Manchester mayor would cost the party many thousands of pounds and the public millions.
In response to being blocked, Burnham said on social media that he was disappointed by the decision and what it could mean for upcoming elections.
“I am disappointed by today’s NEC decision and concerned about its potential impact on the important elections ahead of us,” Burnham said.
“To whoever is Labour’s candidate and to our members in Manchester and Tameside: you will have my full support and I will be there whenever you need me.”
“I decided to put myself forward to prevent the divisive politics of Reform from damaging that. We are stronger together and let’s stay that way,” he said.
Reports are swirling that many Labour MPs, even a number of cabinet ministers, are unhappy with the decision to block Burnham from running, although there has been no call for the NEC’s decision to be reversed.
Reform may also threaten Labour’s hold on Gorton and Denton in the upcoming by-election if Burnham does not stand, a risk alluded to by Burnham himself on X.
In a response to Tom Baldwin’s criticism of his request to stand in the by-election as doing ‘no one any good’, Burnham replied: “I’m not sure losing a by-election does us any good either.”
Importantly, while Burnham has accepted this decision now, his potential for an eventual Westminster return seems relatively unscathed.
The ‘King of the North’ enjoys a broad base of support and is seen by many as an effect answer to the challenges that will inevitably be posed by Reform in coming elections.
