Angela Rayner will weigh in on the row over whether Andy Burnham should be allowed to run in a crunch by-election as MPs warned Labour bosses against a stitch up
Angela Rayner is expected to warn Labour chiefs against blocking Andy Burnham from running to be an MP.
The former Deputy Leader is understood to be supportive of Mr Burnham making a Commons comeback, and is expected to say members must be able to decide in a speech to party faithful on Saturday.
The Greater Manchester Mayor, who has made no secret of his ambitions to be Labour leader, must decide on Saturday whether to seek a return to Westminster in an upcoming by-election.
The contest was triggered by Andrew Gwynne who formally quit as MP for Gorton & Denton, in Greater Manchester, today. Mr Gwynne, who cited medical reasons for his resignation, lost the Labour whip over a string of offensive WhatsApp messages last year.
His departure opens up a path to return to Westminster for Mr Burnham, long viewed as a potential challenger to Keir Starmer. Mr Burnham has not yet declared whether he wants to run.
His candidacy would have to be approved by Labour’s ruling national executive committee (NEC), which is dominated by Starmer loyalists.
READ MORE: Andy Burnham gives verdict on suspended Labour MP quitting – ‘I’m in the dark’
A number of MPs broke ranks today to publicly urge party chiefs not to block Mr Burnham from standing.
Jo White, chair of the influential Red Wall group of MPs, said: “Let the North decide who their Labour candidate should be for the Gorton and Denton by-election. A London stitch up will be a disaster for Labour.”
Crewe and Nantwich MP Connor Naismith said: “Gorton and Denton deserves the best possible choice of candidates.
“I agree with the Prime Minister that our attention should be on delivering for the public, not speculating about future leadership contests. Any decision made to limit the choice would be wrong.”
The new leader of Unison, Britain’s biggest trade union, also weighted in. Andrea Egan said: “I’m sure all trade unionists expect a democratic process for Gorton and Denton in which local party members decide who they want to represent them. We’ve seen enough control-freakery in the Labour Party and it has done our movement nothing but harm.”
The Fire Brigades Union’s Steve Wright said: “It would be a democratic outrage if Andy Burnham was blocked from seeking selection as Labour’s by-election candidate in this seat.”
Health Minister Stephen Kinnock said: “It will be like any other selection process and those rules and procedures will be set in due course.” Mr Kinnock said Mr Burnham was “doing a great job in the role that he currently has”.
He told BBC Breakfast: “Andy Burnham is an incredibly talented and effective leader as the mayor of Greater Manchester.”
A Labour source: “No candidates have yet put their name forward. The candidate will be selected in line with clear party rules and procedures.”