Burnham Criticises How Labour "Is Being Run" After Being Blocked As By-Election Candidate
3 min read
Andy Burnham has launched a public criticism of the Labour leadership after his desire to run in an upcoming by-election was blocked by senior party figures.
Posting on X on Sunday night, the Greater Manchester Mayor said journalists found out about the party's decision to reject his bid to be Labour candidate in Gorton and Denton before he did, claiming that it "tells you everything you need to know about the way the Labour Party is being run these days".
He added: "You would think that over 30 years of service would count for something but sadly not."
Burnham also said he was "disappointed by today’s NEC decision and concerned about its potential impact on the important elections ahead of us".
He added: "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.
"Tomorrow I return with full focus to my role as Mayor of GM, defending everything we have built in our city-region over many years.
"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."
Earlier in the day, Labour's ruling national executive committee (NEC) confirmed that it had agreed to deny Burnham's application to stand in the by-election to succeed Andrew Gwynne, who is resigning as a Labour MP for health reasons.
A Labour source challenged Burnham's version of events, telling PoliticsHome it is "uncategorically untrue" that the party briefed the media before informing him of the decision. The source said that the party attempted to contact Burnham after the decision was made over the phone and via email.
In a statement this morning, the party said it was opposed to Burnham's candidacy because it would mean holding an "unnecessary" mayoral election in Manchester to find his replacement that would have a "substantial and disproportionate impact on party campaign resources ahead of the local elections and elections to the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Senedd in May".
A spokesperson added: "Andy Burnham is doing a great job as Mayor of Greater Manchester. We believe it is in the best interests of the party to avoid an unnecessary mayoral election, which would use substantial amounts of taxpayers’ money and resources that are better spent tackling the cost of living crisis.
"We look forward to fighting and winning the upcoming by-election in Gorton and Denton and the positive campaign ahead, which will be firmly focused on tackling the cost of living and bringing investment to the local area."
The move has angered a number of Labour MPs, some of whom have publicly criticised the decision.
Burnham, who was an MP before becoming Manchester's mayor, is a more popular figure than Keir Starmer, according to opinion polls, and is seen by many as Labour's best chance of maintaining control of the Greater Manchester seat.
However, he is widely seen as a potential successor to the Prime Minister and a threat to his leadership.
Deputy leader Lucy Powell, a Burnham ally and Manchester MP, was the only member of the ten-person NEC meeting to vote in favour of allowing Burnham to stand. Eight others – Starmer among them – voted to block the mayor.
