Labour is facing growing internal scrutiny over the potential candidacy of Andy Burnham in the forthcoming Gorton and Denton by-election. The issue was raised on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, where the presenter warned Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood that uncertainty surrounding Burnham’s future risked escalating into a damaging episode for the party.
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Burnham, currently serving as Labour’s Mayor of Greater Manchester, has put himself forward to stand for the vacant parliamentary seat following Andrew Gwynne’s resignation. While Burnham has stated that his intention would be to support the government if elected, some within Labour are reportedly concerned that his return to Westminster could pose a challenge to Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership.
The party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) is due to decide whether Burnham will be included on the longlist of candidates for the by-election. Speculation has emerged that figures close to the Prime Minister may seek to prevent his candidacy at this stage, a move critics argue could reinforce perceptions of excessive central control within the party. Mahmood acknowledged that selection disputes are not uncommon in Labour politics and said the NEC would consider all views.
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Later in the programme, Labour peer Shami Chakrabarti argued that Burnham should be allowed to put his case to local members, warning that blocking a popular regional figure could prove counterproductive. She suggested that, amid concerns about the rise of Reform UK, the party should avoid internal conflict and focus on presenting a united front to voters.
