Labour’s Power Struggle Intensifies as Burnham Seeks Leadership Opportunity
Andy Burnham’s closest supporters are sounding alarms over attempts to fast-track Wes Streeting as the next Labour leader, warning against a “coronation” that would shut out the Greater Manchester mayor from contesting the party’s top post.
Amid escalating pressure on Keir Starmer to resign following disastrous local election results, Burnham’s camp is demanding immediate guarantees from Labour’s national executive committee (NEC) that he will be allowed to run in any forthcoming parliamentary byelection.
Burnham’s Path to Westminster Hits Unexpected Roadblock
Burnham’s strategy involved contesting a byelection in a safe Labour seat to re-enter Parliament and challenge for the leadership. However, Marie Rimmer, the veteran MP for St Helens South and Whiston—a seat identified by Burnham’s allies as a potential target—has firmly refused to step aside.
Rimmer, who has represented the constituency since 2015, emphasized her commitment to her constituents and dismissed claims of recent contact with Burnham. “I’m not planning to stand down for anybody,” she stated. “I was selected by my constituency party and it’s my constituency party who decides who stands. I’ve not spoken to Andy Burnham in years and neither has he spoken to me.”
Burnham’s allies countered that communications had occurred, but Rimmer labeled these claims as “completely untrue.” Despite health challenges, she reaffirmed her dedication to her role and expressed opposition to Starmer’s resignation, warning that a leadership contest now would plunge Labour into “chaos” and make the party resemble the Tories in disarray.
Local Dynamics and Political Stakes
A local MP noted the proximity of St Helens to Burnham’s former seat of Leigh, suggesting Burnham’s regional recognition could boost his election chances despite the challenges. Yet, the political landscape remains fraught, especially after Labour’s heavy losses in Greater Manchester and surrounding areas.
Labour’s Leadership Crisis Deepens After Election Defeats
More than 80 Labour MPs, many aligned with Burnham, have publicly called on Starmer to step down. They urge the party to establish a clear timetable for an orderly leadership transition that would allow Burnham to compete fairly.
Neal Lawson, director of the cross-party campaign group Compass and a close Burnham ally, wrote that only Labour’s NEC officers stand between Burnham and the leadership. He demanded an official NEC statement confirming Burnham’s eligibility for any byelection candidacy, allowing local members to decide his selection.
Lawson warned: “The Labour party must now do what it takes to ensure that Burnham is available to be the next leader of the party and the country.”
Resistance to Streeting’s Rapid Succession Plan
Other Burnham supporters criticized attempts by Streeting and his faction to engineer a swift leadership handover, fearing it would alienate voters and deny Labour a genuine contest. “We can’t afford a coronation from Keir to Wes or whatever – that’s not going to cut it with the country,” one insider said.
Despite ongoing efforts to find a seat for Burnham, no MP has yet agreed to step down to facilitate a byelection, illustrating the complexities involved.
NEC Signals Possible Shift Amid Growing Pressure
Sources within Labour’s NEC suggest they might reconsider their stance if Starmer’s authority erodes further or if a byelection is formally called. One official noted: “Things could move should Starmer clearly not have support to continue as PM.”
Burnham’s team hopes that the crushing local election defeats will sharpen MPs’ focus on their re-election prospects ahead of the next general election, scheduled by summer 2029 at the latest.
Electoral Challenges in Labour Heartlands
Labour suffered significant losses across Greater Manchester, conceding 108 council seats to Reform UK, a party capitalizing on Brexit-voting former Labour strongholds. In St Helens, Reform UK ended Labour’s 16-year dominance by securing 34 of 48 seats.
The High-Stakes Gamble of a Byelection
Political experts view any attempt by Burnham to re-enter Parliament via byelection as a high-risk, high-reward maneuver. Professor Tim Bale of Queen Mary University of London described it as “one of the highest-stakes byelections since the coming of democracy in Britain.”
Burnham would have to relinquish his Greater Manchester mayoralty to trigger the first-ever byelection for a combined authority position, representing nearly two million voters.
Despite Labour’s current unpopularity nationally, Bale believes Burnham has a “pretty good chance” of winning because he could unite voters eager for a change in leadership and a departure from Starmer’s tenure.
