With Angela Rayner reportedly backing Andy Burnham’s selection to stand in the Gorton and Denton seat after Andrew Gwynne’s resignation, the pressure is ramping up on Greater Manchester’s Mayor for a decision
According to the Times the former deputy prime minister is encouraging Burnham to stand and is expected to share her support at the upcoming northwest regional Labour conference today
Leeds MP Richard Burgon wrote on X
“Everyone knows Andy Burnham would have the best chance of beating Reform in Gorton and Denton.” adding
Fixing the selection to keep him off the ballot would be an affront to party democracy – and a sign nasty factionalism is a higher priority than reversing the rise of Farage and Reform
Reports also say that Kier Starmer has been warned not to block Burnham’s passage to Westminster
Gemma Bolton, a constituency members’ representative on the NEC, said it would be “outrageous” to prevent Mr Burnham from being the by-election candidate in Gorton & Denton and “would show a real weakness in his [Starmer’s] leadership”.
Asked about whether she would like to see a leadership challenge, she told the BBC’sNewsnight:
“It’s not looking positive and I do think that if things aren’t being seen to change, then I think that members, backbench MPs and the public will increasingly be saying, this isn’t good enough and we need a better path forward for our country.”
Current polling shows that Reform would win the seat unless Burnham is a candidate
Ultimately of course the decision lies with the Mayor who has indicated that he will serve his term in Manchester but watch this space
