Andy Burnham ‘probably’ would have received by-election, Labour deputy chief says
Lucy Powell called on her party to draw inspiration from the reasons for Mr Burnham’s popularity in Greater Manchester, after the devastating defeat on Thursday
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham with Labour’s candidate Angeliki Stogia(Image: Getty Images)
Andy Burnham would have won the Gorton and Denton by-election, Labour’s deputy leader has suggested.
Lucy Powell called on her party to draw inspiration from the reasons for Mr Burnham’s popularity in Greater Manchester, after the devastating defeat on Thursday. Labour fell to third in the vote, with the Greens winning in a constituency the party had held for almost 100 years.
Speaking to the BBC ’s Newscast podcast, Ms Powell said Mr Burnham “probably would have” held the seat.
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READ MORE: Wes Streeting says Labour must ‘give country hope’ after by-election defeat
She said: “I think certainly the Greens wouldn’t have gone after the seat in the same way that they did.”
Ms Powell was the only member of Labour’s ruling national executive committee (NEC) to vote in favour of allowing Mr Burnham to stand in Gorton and Denton, with eight others including Keir Starmer voting against.
But she told the BBC she accepted “collective responsibility” for the decision, citing concern about a mayoral by-election in Greater Manchester. Ms Powell has now urged Labour to look at Mr Burnham’s popularity in Greater Manchester, and how to replicate it, explaining people “see in him someone who is on their side, someone who is delivering those Labour values and those Labour policies”.
She added: “We have to draw on that, make use of Andy Burnham, but also draw on that and reflect on how we could do that better nationally and better as a Government. And I know from talking to Keir many, many times over recent weeks, before this by-election and since, that that is something he is very focused on doing.” Mr Burnham has stayed quiet over the result in Gorton and Denton, while the PM has vowed to fight on despite the “disappointing” outcome of the poll.
Ms Powell’s intervention comes as the PM wrote to Labour members vowing to convince the public that his party were the face of progressive politics. Mr Starmer said: “I get it: people are rightly impatient to see more of the change they voted for in 2024. It’s my job to make sure that happens. And I’m working day in, day out to see it through.
“Over the coming months, people will feel more of the change we are delivering on cost of living and more opportunities for people in our country. The majority of this country neither want the wrong-headed policies of Zack Polanski or the division of Nigel Farage. Our task in the coming months is to focus on that majority and ensure Labour is the voice and vehicle for the modern progressive Britain we all believe in. I don’t underestimate the challenge, but with your support, it’s a challenge we can, must and will win.”
