Labour Backbenchers Start To Publicly Condemn Starmer Over Mandelson Scandal

Posted on 06/02/2026 by Boris Clair

A growing list of Labour backbenchers are speaking out against Keir Starmer over the Peter Mandelson scandal – while some are turning on each other.

The prime minister apologised for believing the ex-Labour peer’s “lies” over his relationship with dead paedophile Jeffrey Epstein on Thursday in an attempt to win back public favour.

But scrutiny over his decision to appoint Mandelson as the UK’s ambassador to Washington continues to grow, especially as their friendship was public knowledge even before Starmer gave him the plum job.

Labour MPs began the week by privately slamming the prime minister but now – after Starmer still insisted he had no reason to believe Mandelson had misled him over his Epstein ties until US lawmakers released new files on the convicted sex offender – a growing number of those on the left of the party are going on the record with their criticisms.

Paula Barker told the BBC she was “deeply ashamed” of the government’s initial attempts to block the release of documents surrounding Mandelson’s appointment.

However, she said “there’s nobody who I would be prepared to back at this stage” to replace him.

Simon Opher also told the New Statesman that Starmer’s chief of staff Morgan McSweeney – a close ally to Mandelson – “needs to go”, blaming the “poor decision-making of those around the prime minister” for the current crisis.

Bell Ribeiro-Addy told ITV News that appointing Mandelson was an “unforgivable betrayed of our stance on violence against women and girls”.

Others, like Neil Duncan-Jordan, went further, calling for the “Number 10 operation in its entirety” to change.

Similarly, Kim Johnson said: “If this is their idea of leadership, No.10 needs gutting from top to bottom.”

Jo White, leader of Labour’s Red Wall group, said on X: “The only way through this is an ethical reset at the heart of government. ”

And former Labour shadow chancellor John McDonnell warned: “This could bring this government down.

“It could certainly bring Keir Starmer down and this whole team around him, that’s the seriousness of it.”

Rachael Maskell, a known Labour rebel, said on Thursday: “We need to now move forward as a party to ensure that we can gain that support back.

“I don’t believe we can with the PM in place – it is inevitable that the PM is going to have to step down.”

But Loyalist MP Luke Akehurst played down the impact of these statements, saying: “I’m not sure Morgan McSweeney should lose much sleep over this small collection of my PLP colleagues, all policy rebels on various issues, calling for his departure.

“The same names repeatedly take the opportunity to share their hot takes with the media.”

This sparked further disquiet within the party as fellow MP and government critic Karl Turner hit back.

Replying on X, he said: “I don’t think McSweeney will give a monkeys, Luke. But our PM should. And so should you. We aren’t some sort of fast food franchise. We are the Labour Party.

“Getting clever like this about those of us that have got the bottle to speak says more about you than it does about me.”

Meanwhile, a Labour source was exasperated to see the chaos erupting within the party, telling HuffPost UK: “Why are they publicly fighting? What’s wrong with them all?”

‘Universally Low’: How Labour MPs’ Plummeting Morale Has Left Keir Starmer In The Danger Zone

Posted on 05/02/2026 by Boris Clair

Keir Starmer threw himself on the mercy of Jeffrey Epstein’s victims today as he desperately tried to save his premiership.

The prime minister stared down the barrel of a TV camera and apologised to them for appointing Peter Mandelson as the UK’s ambassador to Washington, despite his known links to the convicted paedophile.

“I am sorry,” he said. “Sorry for what was done to you. Sorry for having believing Mandelson’s lies and appointed him. And sorry that even now you are forced to watch this story unfold in public once again.”

But the prime minister’s audience was as much his own MPs as it was the women who were abused by Epstein.

They are the ones who hold his fate in their hands, and the bad news for Starmer is that, if anything, they are even angrier than they were yesterday.

One veteran backbencher described the mood among his colleagues as “universally low”.

Another MP said: “Taking refuge in constituency stuff this weekend seems appealing.

“But trying to pretend it’s all a bad dream for a few days won’t work, as constituents will be taking the chance to make very clear how they feel about Starmer and Mandelson and that’ll end up feeding into things back in parliament next week.”

Starmer’s argument is that he was unaware of the extent of Lord Mandelson’s ongoing friendship with Epstein, and was lied to by the then Labour peer during the vetting process for the ambassadorial post.

“He portrayed Epstein as someone he barely knew,” the PM said. “And when that became clear and it was not true, I sacked him.”

But that is failing to convince even his own ministers, with one telling HuffPost UK: “Everyone knows Peter was always going to be a high risk appointment and that’s the most disappointing thing.

“On balance the ‘is this worth the risk’ question should have been answered with a ‘no’.”

For a prime minister and former barrister, Starmer does seem to be remarkably incurious.

The full extent of Mandelson’s deep connections with Epstein were, of course, unknown until the latest tranche of documents on the billionaire financier were released last week by the US Department of Justice.

Details of him allegedly passing on market sensitive information in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crash has stunned Westminster and have put Mandelson at the heart of a criminal investigation.

Nevertheless, there was enough evidence available long before Starmer made Mandelson his ambassador to show that he had maintained contact with Epstein after his conviction.

An internal report from 2019 by the JP Morgan bank containing emails between the pair was reported on by the Financial Times in 2023.

Photographs of the pair shopping in the Caribbean and blowing out candles on a birthday cake in Epstein’s Paris apartment were also widely in circulation.

Given that, it is hard to understand how Starmer could have bought Mandelson’s line that the pair “barely knew” one another.

Labour MP Richard Burgon – no fan of Starmer’s, it must be said – remarked: “No minister should be giving the impression that Mandelson’s relationship with Epstein – even after his jailing – wasn’t known before Mandelson became ambassador. It was.”

Other MPs insist the moment of maximum danger for Starmer has passed, at least in the short term.

But the feeling remains that the PM is now just one mis-step away from a full-blown leadership crisis – and his rivals are preparing to strike.

Keir Starmer Facing ‘Political Death’ As Mandelson Scandal Threatens To Engulf Him

Posted on 04/02/2026 by Boris Clair

Keir Starmer is fighting for his political life after the row over his decision to make Peter Mandelson the UK’s ambassador to Washington threatens to end his premiership.

The prime minister is facing mounting fury from Labour MPs after confirming that he knew about Mandelson’s ongoing friendship with the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein when he gave him the plum diplomatic job.

Starmer made the shocking admission as he endured a torrid prime minister’s questions in the House of Commons.

A minister described Starmer’s performance as “disastrous”.

One Labour MP told HuffPost UK that watching Starmer was “like being present at the political death of the prime minister”.

“It’s made his position far, far worse,” the MP said. “I couldn’t believe some of his answers. We were aghast.”

The MP added: “Labour MPs are in disbelief, to be honest. He came to PMQs and instead of handling it well and appropriately, totally misjudged the mood of MPs and the country.”

In a fresh humiliation for the PM, the government was also forced to U-turn over its plans to publish the behind-the-scenes communications which took place before Mandelson was made ambassador.

Downing Street had initially said that documents relating to national security and the UK’s relations with other countries would remain under wraps.

However, after a major intervention by former deputy PM Angela Rayner, and with the government facing an embarrassing defeat in the Commons, No.10 agreed that MPs on the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) will be allowed to see those papers to decide whether they can be made public.

One MP said: “I’m relieved that we’ve got to a better place but why have we had to go through this?”

The developments left Starmer’s political authority severely damaged and led to veteran left-winger John McDonnell calling on him to think about quitting as PM.

He told ITV News: “I think he really needs to consider his position about how he goes forward on this because this is one of those issues which could not just bring down a prime minister, but bring down a government.

“I think he should consider his track record, is he performing the role responsibly, and I think the responsibility is on his shoulders to think whether he’s doing the right thing by staying on.”

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Starmer should ‘consider his position’ after documents revealed the extent of Mandelson and Epstein ties, John McDonnell tells ITV News’ @carldinnen

The PM is facing anger from Labour MPs over what he knew about Mandelson’s ongoing friendship with the disgraced financier pic.twitter.com/wVSG8ApYnC

— ITVPolitics (@ITVNewsPolitics) February 4, 2026

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Starmer should ‘consider his position’ after documents revealed the extent of Mandelson and Epstein ties, John McDonnell tells ITV News’ @carldinnen

The PM is facing anger from Labour MPs over what he knew about Mandelson’s ongoing friendship with the disgraced financier pic.twitter.com/wVSG8ApYnC

— ITVPolitics (@ITVNewsPolitics) February 4, 2026

Starmer’s leadership crisis has been triggered by the revelations about the extent of Mandelson’s links to Epstein, which emerged in documents released last weekend by the US Department of Justice.

Mandelson, who was sacked as US ambassador just seven months after Starmer appointed him, is facing a criminal investigation over claims he passed market sensitive information to the billionaire financier when he was business secretary in Gordon Brown’s government.

At PMQs, Starmer said Mandelson – who this week quit the House of Lords – had “betrayed” Britain by his actions.

He also said Mandelson had “lied repeatedly” when being vetted for the ambassador’s role.

“I regret appointing him,” Starmer said. “If I knew then what I know now, he wouldn’t have been anywhere near government.”

Calls For Criminal Probe Into Lord Mandelson Grow After ‘Shocking’ Leaks To Epstein

Posted on 02/02/2026 by Boris Clair

Calls for a police probe into Peter Mandelson have grown amid suggestions the peer leaked sensitive government information to dead paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

The US Department of Justice (DoJ) released a vast trove of documents related to Epstein’s network over the weekend, including his email exchanges with Mandelson.

Their conversations suggested that Mandelson passed Epstein at least one confidential memo when he was the business secretary back in 2009, following the financial crash.

He appeared to forward an economic briefing for then-prime minister Gordon Brown to Epstein, who pleaded guilt to procuring an underage child for prostitution the previous year.

Mandelson added the caption: “Interesting note that’s gone to the PM.”

Their conversations suggest Mandelson gave Epstein advance notice of a €500bn bailout from the EU to save the Euro, too.

These emails have sparked fears about whether Mandelson therefore committed misconduct in a public office, which can lead to a maximum sentence of life behind bars.

Both Reform and the SNP have sent separate referrals to the Metropolitan Police to investigate Mandelson.

A Reform UK spokesperson said: “We have today reported Peter Mandelson to the police for misconduct in public office.

“It’s abundantly clear that Peter Mandelson has abused his position in office. It’s now time the police do their job and properly investigate these shocking new revelations.”

SNP Westminster leader, Stephen Flynn, said “the disgraceful revelations” about Mandelson’s messages to Epstein “are shocking and must be fully investigated by the UK government and all appropriate authorities.”

“There is no question that Lord Mandelson’s actions were shameful and unethical – the only question is the extent to which his actions breached the ministerial code and the law,” he said. “I have, therefore, reported Peter Mandelson to the Metropolitan Police.”

Flynn said: “It is essential these matters are fully investigated to ensure maximum transparency and justice.”

Similarly, Lib Dem leader Ed Davey called for a criminal probe.

He said: “The Epstein files suggest Peter Mandelson leaked sensitive government information to a convicted sex offender while serving as a minister, and even suggested a US bank should threaten the government to lower its tax bill.

“These allegations are incredibly serious, it is now only right that the police investigate Peter Mandelson for potential misconduct in public office.”

Prime Minister Keir Starmer, with then-ambassador to the United States Peter Mandelson during a welcome reception at the ambassador's residence on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025 in Washington. — Prime Minister Keir Starmer, with then-ambassador to the United States Peter Mandelson during a welcome reception at the ambassador’s residence on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025 in Washington.

Gordon Brown, who was prime minister between 2007 and 2010, also called for a probe after the “shocking” revelation on Monday.

“I have today asked the cabinet secretary to investigate the disclosure of confidential and market sensitive information from the then business department during the global financial crisis,” he said.

He revealed that he asked the cabinet secretary Chris Wormald to investigate “the veracity of information contained in the Epstein papers about the sale of assets arising from the banking collapse and communications about them between Lord Mandelson and Mr Epstein” back in September.

While that enquiry concluded that there was “no departmental record” of these conversations, Brown said these new documents suggested it was time for a “wider and more intensive inquiry”.

He said the probe should look at the “wholly unacceptable disclosure of government papers and information during the period when the country was battling the global financial crisis.”

Brown’s former government adviser Nick Butler also told Times Radio that Mandelson “should be ashamed of the breach of trust and the betrayal of trust that he’s been involved in”.

“I agree with Gordon Brown that there should be a full inquiry now into all the messages from the government at that time to Epstein,” he added.

“How many more messages on really important issues, important issues on which Epstein could have made a lot of money? How many messages were sent in that period? I think Peter should now resign from the Lords. I think that would be the honourable thing to do.”

Chief secretary to the prime minister Darren Jones told MPs that the prime minister has orded the cabinet secretary to investigate Mandelson’s contact with Epstein.

He added: “Whilst Peter Mandelson must account for his actions and conduct, it is an understatement to say that his decision to continue a close relationship with a convicted paedophile, including discussing private government business, falls far below the standards expected of any minister. His behaviour was unequivocally wrong and an insult to the women and girls who suffered.”

Mandelson was sacked as US ambassador in September when it emerged he had remained friendly with Epstein after his 2008 conviction.

He then quit Labour on Sunday night after the documents appeared to show him receiving $75,000 from the late financier, claiming he did not want to cause “further embarrassment”.

Mandelson remains a peer, but prime minister Keir Starmer suggested he should be kicked out of the House of Lords on Monday.

His spokesperson said the government wants to work with the Lords to “strengthen the circumstances in which disgraced members can be removed” from parliament.

He said Starmer “believes that Peter Mandelson should not be a member of the House of Lords or use the title”.

At the moment, it requires an act of parliament is required to removed an individual from the Lords.

A Labour Party spokesman said: “It is right that Peter Mandelson is no longer a member of the Labour Party. Disciplinary action was underway prior to his resignation.

“Jeffrey Epstein’s heinous crimes destroyed the lives of so many women and girls, and our thoughts remain with his victims.”

Lord Mandelson Resigns From Labour Party After Latest Jeffrey Epstein Revelations

Posted on 01/02/2026 by Boris Clair

Lord Mandelson has resigned his membership of the Labour Party to avoid causing it “further embarrassment” following further revelations about his friendship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

The peer, who was sacked as US ambassador last year because of his links to Epstein, featured in a fresh batch of documents appearing to show him receiving $75,000 from the late financier.

In one bank statement, a payment of $25,000 to the account of Reinaldo Avila da Silva, now Lord Mandelson’s husband, features on May 14, 2003.

The statement appears to describe “Peter Mandelson” as the beneficiary of the payment.

Two later statements from May and June 2004 also feature $25,000 payments to Mandelson, one to an account which appears in his name, and another in which he appears to be listed as a beneficiary.

The peer told the BBC he had no recollection of receiving the payments, and did not know if the documents were genuine.

However the revelations led to calls from Labour and opposition MPs for Keir Starmer to kick him out of the party.

Mandelson said he had written on Sunday evening to Labour general secretary Hollie Ridley to say he was quitting the party.

In his letter, he said: “I have been further linked this weekend to the understandable furore surrounding Jeffrey Epstein and I feel regretful and sorry about this.

“Allegations which I believe to be false that he made financial payments to me 20 years ago, and of which I have no record or recollection, need investigating by me.

“While doing this I do not wish to cause further embarrassment to the Labour Party and I am therefore stepping down from membership of the party.”

Elsewhere in the newly-released Epstein documents, undated photographs of Lord Mandelson show him in a T-shirt and his pants, standing in what appears to be a hotel room.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated. Follow HuffPost UK on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

‘People Are Struggling, My Priority Is Cutting The Cost Of Living,’ Says Green Party By-Election Candidate

Posted on 30/01/2026 by Boris Clair

It’s been a whirlwind few days. At the start of the week I was at college doing a plastering course, and now I’m the Green Party’s candidate in the most high profile by-election we’ve ever properly contested.

I’m not your average politician. I didn’t go to university to study politics. I’m a plumber in Manchester – and through that job I spend my days in kitchens, bathrooms and front rooms. And from what I see, people are struggling.

We are not a poor country, we’re not a poor city – but government after government has treated us poorly. I see that in the cold homes, the repairs that people save up for months to do and the struggle that so many of us have with our mental health.

That’s why my number one priority will always be taking action to cut the cost of living – cheaper bills through public ownership, rent controls, free bus travel for young people. Insulating homes properly.

While Reform refuse to make the richest in our society pay their fair share, and flirt with privatising the NHS, I’ll be a champion for slashing inequality, re-wiring our economy to work for all of us and giving people the physical and mental healthcare they need.

Of course not everyone in Britain is struggling. In fact, the 50 richest families hold more wealth than 50% of the population. That kind of wealth is unimaginable to the people of Gorton and Denton, and despite widespread calls for a proper wealth tax, it’s a wealth that this government seems happy to watch accumulate.

As a plumber, my job is to assess a problem properly, take advice and find the right long term solution. That’s exactly how I’ll approach politics – and it’s a stark contrast to the other parties.

Labour is riven with U-turns, stitch-ups and lies. They do over their own mayor – and they’ll do over the rest of us too.

Reform is a party that drools over a dangerous US president, that is backed by big finance. In Matt Goodwin they’ve picked an extreme candidate, who has made his disdain for Muslims widely known, and who sees this place as just as a rung on the radical right career ladder.

In me, voters have the chance for something completely different. I’ll be an MP for all of Gorton and Denton, and i’ll be focused on tangible things to make our lives better. Where there’s a blockage, I’ll fix it – and where something needs repairing I’ll get my hands dirty.

In the coming weeks we’re going to see a lot of focus on our part of the world. Reform are backed by far-right thugs like Tommy Robinson, Labour are desperately trying to convince people that they’re still relevant. But this is Manchester, and we do things differently here.

I’ll be going door to door – with hundreds of fellow Mancunians – being very clear that there’s only one party that can be trusted on the cost of living, on taxing the very wealthiest and on bringing real justice to the Palestinians after years of British support for a genocidal Israeli regime.

I’m so proud to be from this amazing city – and I cannot wait to get going.

Hannah Spencer in the Green Party candidate in the Gorton and Denton by-election.

Reform UK Mocked After Police Refuse To Probe ‘Misleading’ Labour Post On X

Posted on 29/01/2026 by Boris Clair

Nigel Farage’s party reported their rivals over a clip in which Matt Goodwin, their candidate in next month’s Gorton and Denton by-election, appeared to criticise Manchester.

In actual fact, he was attacking the Conservative Party conference which had taken place in the city the week before.

Reform said the social media post broke electoral laws on misleading voters.

But in a statement on Thursday, Greater Manchester Police said: “We can confirm we have received a report and after assessment, informed the complainant there is no offence identified.”

Labour then posted a previous tweet from Reform in which they said: “We will ensure police focus on keeping our streets safe rather than wasting valuable time policing social media comments.”

A Labour source said: “Nigel Farage has repeatedly bemoaned the ‘policing of tweets’, yet desperately begged the authorities to look at a clip of his divisive candidate’s own words. It is as laughable as it is sad.

“Only Labour can take on Reform’s toxic politics and reject their shameless, divisive rhetoric.”

Reform UK have been contacted for comment.

The Gorton and Denton by-election will take place on February 26.

Reform Choose Right-Wing GB News Presenter Matt Goodwin To Stand In Crunch By-Election

Posted on 27/01/2026 by Boris Clair

Reform UK have chosen a right-wing GB News presenter as the party’s candidate in next month’s crunch Gorton and Denton by-election.

Academic and author Matt Goodwin will aim to become the party’s ninth MP when voters go to the polls on February 26.

He was chosen despite speculation that Reform’s policy chief and former chairman Zia Yusuf would be the candidate.

The by-election has been triggered by the resignation on health grounds of Andrew Gwynne, who retained the seat for Labour in 2024 with a majority of more than 13,000.

However, opinion polls suggest it will be a close three-horse race between Labour, Reform and the Greens.

After being unveiled by Reform MP Lee Anderson at a press conference in the constituency, Goodwin said: “I am not a career politician. I am not a Tory.

“I am not part of the establishment. I am not part of the Westminster blob.

“I am, like many people in this seat and millions of people in this country, hard-working taxpayers who are just fed up of watching what is happening to their communities and to their home.”

“Matt Goodwin represents the kind of politics that will drive a wedge between communities in Manchester.”

Anderson said the by-election was “a referendum on Keir Starmer”.

He said: “It’s a chance for hard-working, law-abiding people, tax-paying people from this seat to have their say on Keir Starmer and to make political history.”

Labour’s campaign has been overshadowed by a furious row over the party’s decision to block Andy Burnham from running to be its candidate.

Labour deputy leader Lucy Powell said: “Matt Goodwin represents the kind of politics that will drive a wedge between communities in Manchester.

“Reform have misjudged the mood around Manchester and they won’t put the priorities of working people first. They just offer division, animosity, and hatred – not the unity and pride which our city stands for.

“Only a vote for Labour can stop Reform’s toxic politics and guarantee residents have a local champion that will cut their cost of living as their new Labour MP.”

Green Party leader Zack Polanski said: “This by-election is a straight contest between hope and hate. The Green Party will be out campaigning every day, to improve the cost of living by taxing the super rich.

“We alone will be taking the fight to Reform, whose selection of a man with a track record of anti-Muslim bigotry in a community with a good history of community relations is an insult to the people of Gorton and Denton.

“It tells you everything you need to know that Reform are parachuting in this rent-an-extremist – this isn’t about representing the people of Gorton and Denton, it’s about using this place as a platform for their careers.”

Liberal Democrat cabinet office spokesperson, Lisa Smart said: “Reform UK’s selection of Matthew Goodwin proves they are a party built on a single foundation: division.

“Like Nigel Farage, Goodwin has made a career out of talking our country down. He is a professional wind-up merchant, more interested in chasing headlines than putting an end to the cost of living crisis facing families.

“We cannot allow the divisive politics of Trump’s America to become the blueprint for Farage’s Britain.”

Andy Burnham ‘Disappointed And Concerned’ By Move To Block His Bid To Stand As Labour MP

Posted on 25/01/2026 by Boris Clair

Andy Burnham has said he is “disappointed” by the decision to block him from standing as a Labour candidate in the upcoming by-election and “concerned” about the repercussions.

The mayor of Greater Manchester threw his hat into the ring for the Gorton and Denton by-election on Saturday after Andrew Gwynne stepped down.

But, as the directly elected mayor, Burnham – who served in the cabinet under Gordon Brown – had to seek approval from the National Executive Committee (NEC) to be considered as a Labour candidate.

Eight of its 10 members voted against allowing him to stand, with only one member voting in favour of letting him run and one abstaining.

The prime minister was among those who voted to stop Burnham’s bid to return to Westminster.

Burnham is often seen as a challenger to Keir Starmer and allies feared that his presence in Westminster may have destabilised the prime minister’s government.

In a post on X, the Labour politician wrote: “I am disappointed by today’s decision and concerned about its potential impact on the elections ahead of us.

“To whoever is Labour’s candidate and to our members in Manchester and Tameside: you will have my full support in this fight and I’ll be there whenever you need me.”

He added: “Tomorrow I return with full focus to my role as Mayor of GM, defending everything we have built in our city-region over many years. I decided to put myself forward to prevent the divisive politics of Reform from damaging that. We are stronger together and let’s stay that way.”

But the NEC’s move has sparked a major backlash from within the Labour Party, with one MP telling HuffPost UK that many backbenchers feel it was a “cowardly” decision.

Senior Labour figures including energy secretary Ed Miliband and deputy Labour leader Lucy Powell had previously said they thought Burnham should be allowed to run.

The Labour Party issued a statement defending the NEC on Sunday, saying allowing Burnham to run would have triggered an “unnecessary election for the position of Greater Manchester mayor”.

It claimed this “would have a substantial and disproportionate impact on party campaign resources ahead of the local elections and elections to the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Senedd in May”.

It added: “Although the party would be confident of retaining the mayoralty, the NEC could not put Labour’s control of Greater Manchester at any risk. ”

Housing and local government secretary Steve Reed told the BBC that it was not the right time for Burnham to return to parliament.

He said the NEC voted against it because “of the huge inconvenience to two million voters across Greater Manchester of having a by-election for a new mayor”.

“I know that’s disappointing for Andy,” Reed said. “But it’s good news for the people of Greater Manchester because he’s been doing such a good job as the mayor there.”

He claimed “voters don’t like elections that come mid-term” adding that “in due course, I look forward to seeing Andy back in parliament”.

Andy Burnham Tees Up Battle With Keir Starmer By Launching MP Bid

Posted on 24/01/2026 by Boris Clair

Andy Burnham has launched his bid to be Labour’s candidate in a crunch by-election and return to Westminster as an MP.

The Manchester mayor told Labour bosses of his intentions to stand in Gorton and Denton following the resignation on health grounds of sitting MP Andrew Gwynne.

In a letter posted on X, Burnham – who quit as an MP in 2017 – said it was time for him to try to return to parliament.

As a mayor, he has to seek special permission from Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) to be allowed to apply to be a candidate.

Burnham said it had been “a difficult decision”, but vowed to run a “hopeful and unifying campaign” if chosen to as Labour’s candidate.

He there was now “a direct threat to everything Greater Manchester has always been about from a brand of politics which seeks to pit people against each other” – an apparent reference to Reform UK and the rise of the far-right.

He added: “I see this by-election as the front line of that fight for the Manchester way and I feel I owe it to a city which has given me so much to lead it from the front, despite the risks involved.”

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I have today written to the Chair of Labour’s National Executive Committee seeking permission to enter the selection process for a candidate for the forthcoming Gorton and Denton by-election.

Read my letter here.👇🏻 pic.twitter.com/TwKgADsuSB

— Andy Burnham (@AndyBurnhamGM) January 24, 2026

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I have today written to the Chair of Labour’s National Executive Committee seeking permission to enter the selection process for a candidate for the forthcoming Gorton and Denton by-election.

Read my letter here.👇🏻 pic.twitter.com/TwKgADsuSB

— Andy Burnham (@AndyBurnhamGM) January 24, 2026

Burnham’s decision tees up a major battle with Downing Street, where allies of Keir Starmer want the NEC to block his candidacy so he can’t mount a leadership challenge against the prime minister.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast in November, he refused to rule out making a third bid to lead Labour at some point in the future.

He said: “I am not going to sit here this morning and rule out what might or might not happen in the future. Why would I? I don’t know what the future holds.”

But blocking his candidacy would potentially trigger a civil war in the party, with senior figures including Labour mayor Sadiq Khan demanding that Burnham be allowed to stand.

Khan told a Fabian Society conference on Saturday: “I’m a firm believer in the best team having all the talent playing for them.”

Energy secretary Ed Miliband told the same event: “I very much hope the local party will have the option of selecting Andy Burnham as the candidate”.

Even if he were chosen as Labour’s candidate, there is no guarantee that Burnham would be elected as polls indicate the Gorton and Denton seat is now a three-way marginal between Labour. Reform UK and the Greens.

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