Andy Burnham’s message to Labour MPs as get together fires beginning gun on main by-election
The Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham – who was blocked from a Westminster comeback – urged Labour MPs to ‘come up to Manchester’ ahead of the Gorton and Denton on February 26
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham was blocked from standing(Image: PA)
Keir Starmer attempted to defend his decision to block Andy Burnham’s Westminster comeback today after a barrage of criticism within Labour’s ranks.
The Prime Minister appealed for unity ahead of the Gorton and Denton by-election saying Labour MPs “all need to line up together” in the fight against Nigel Farage’s right-wing Reform UK. He argued triggering a by-election for a new Mayor of Greater Manchester would divert resources from other important elections in the spring.
On Monday, Mr Burnham insisted he had said “everything I’m going to say” as he declined to comment further on the row engulfing the party. He said: “I’m very much focused on my job. I think I’m just going to leave it there, if that’s okay.” He also urged Labour MPs “come up to Manchester” ahead of next month’s by-election.
He said: “What’s my message to MPs? Come up to Manchester. We’ve got a by-election about to happen. We need your help. The Greater Manchester way is built on togetherness. We don’t ever here have a politics that’s about pitting people one from another. This is a place that is succeeding because of its commitment to people of all backgrounds working together for the common good, that is the Greater Manchester way and we want to preserve it.
“So, come and join us. Let’s get out there and celebrate what we’ve achieved in Greater Manchester in the by-election.”
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Attempting to downplay the rift between him and the so-called King of the North, Mr Starmer said on Monday that Mr Burnham is “doing a great job as the Mayor of Manchester”.
But he warned: “Having an election for the Mayor of Manchester when it’s not necessary would divert our resources away from the elections that we must have, that we must fight and win, and resources, whether that’s money or people, need to be focused on the elections that we must have, not elections that we don’t have to have.”
Referring to the controversial move to block Mr Burnham standing as an MP, he added: “And that was the basis of the NEC decision.” During a visit to a health centre in Wimbledon, the PM went on: “The single most important thing for people across the country is the cost of living and that’s why we’re bearing down on it in everything we’re doing, pulling every lever.”
“We must never lose sight of that whatever is happening internationally – and there’s a lot – whatever is happening across the country on other issues – and there’s a lot – the single thing that matters most is the cost of living. All of our members, all of our supporters, all of our MPs, know that.”
He added: “Yes, there is a fight, but that fight is with Reform and we all need to line up together to be in that fight, all playing our part. I think that everybody in the Labour Party, everybody who’s a Labour MP, wants to be in that fight, wants to fight alongside all their colleagues in a fight that matters hugely to the future of our country.”
Their comments came as Labour fired the starting gun in the race to replace ex-Labour MP Andrew Gwynne in the Greater Manchester seat of Gorton and Denton. Government chief whip Jonathan Reynolds asked on Monday for the writ for the vacant seat to be issued – meaning the vote will now take place on February 26. Labour is expected to unveil its candidate to fight for the constituency on Saturday.
But Labour MPs continued to vent their anger at the decision to block Mr Burnham. And it was reported a letter had been signed by more than 50 MPs complaining about the NEC’s move. Furious Labour backbencher Kim Johnson told Times Radio on Monday the PM should consider his own position over the row.
She said: “I’m really disappointed with the decision taken by a handful of NEC members today to block Andy Burnham from standing in the seat in Manchester. It is really disappointing. Starmer has spoken about putting country first before the party. Well, this clearly isn’t the situation. It’s really disappointing that Andy got to find out after the media were invited.
The Liverpool Riverside MP added: “This just plays into the level of factionalism that has been inherent in this party for too long and it has to stop. And Keir Starmer now needs to consider his own position as leader of this party.”
