Tag Archives: andy burnham

Streeting Throws Down Brexit Gauntlet To Burnham As Rivals Vie To Replace Starmer

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Wes Streeting vowed that the UK will one day rejoin the European Union as Labour Brexit splits burst into the open again.

The former health secretary, who quit the cabinet last week in protest at Keir Starmer’s leadership, said the decision to quit the EU had been a “catastrophic mistake”.

He told an event run by the centre-left thing-tank Progress: “The biggest economic opportunity we have is on our doorstep.

“We need a new special relationship with the EU, because Britain’s future lies with Europe – and one day back in the European Union.”

His comments are potentially awkward for Andy Burnham, who he could face in a battle for the Labour leadership within weeks.

Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, has said in the past that he wants to rejoin the EU.

However, he is set to be Labour’s candidate in the upcoming by-election in Makerfield, where the majority of voters backed Brexit in the 2016 referendum.

Asked by ITV on Saturday whether he was still in favour of rejoining the EU, Burnham dodged the question.

He said: “I’ve said in the long term there is a case for that, but I’m not advocating that in this by-election.

“In fact, what I am saying is focus now domestically, Britain has got to focus very much on the here and now and the issues that are affecting people.”

Tory chairman Kevin Hollinrake said: “Whilst Labour relitigate Brexit, Britain is not being governed.

“This is yet another distraction from the day job at a time when families and businesses want the Government focused on the cost of living, the economy, public services and Britain’s defence.”

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey meanwhile said Mr Streeting must “offer something more than the same failed red lines as Keir Starmer” if he is to succeed the Prime Minister, and called for negotiations on a customs union with the EU to be opened.

Starmer has said he wants to see much closer ties with Europe, but insisted Labour will stick to its manifesto red lines of not rejoining the EU single market and customs union, or bringing back freedom of movement.

Culture secretary Lisa Nandy slapped down Streeting over his comments.

She told Sky News: “If rejoining the EU is the answer to what we were just told loud and clear by the country and parts of the country like mine, where we lost 25 out of 25 wards, 24 of them to Reform.

“If rejoining the EU is the answer, then essentially what we’re saying to people is life was fine in 2015, we just need to go back there. I know Wes is coming up to campaign in the by-election quite soon.

“He will hear loud and clear from people in places like Wigan, Ashton, Winstanley, across Makerfield, that that is absolutely not the case.”

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‘He Has The Numbers’: Wes Streeting Allies Insist He Will Run In Labour Leadership Contest

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Wes Streeting will definitely run in the upcoming Labour leadership contest, his allies have told HuffPost UK.

It is the first confirmation that he plans to mount a bid to replace Keir Starmer as prime minister.

Supporters of Starmer have claimed that the former health secretary – who resigned with a ferocious attack on the prime minister yesterday – does not have enough support from Labour MPs to mount a challenge.

Under Labour Party rules, any candidate must have the support of at least 20% of its MPs to make it onto the ballot paper. At the moment, that is 81 MPs.

Starmer allies have claimed that Streeting currently only has 43 names, leaving him well short of the number required.

They said that was why he did not formally trigger a contest when he quit the cabinet, as had been expected.

But a source close to Streeting told HuffPost UK: “He has the numbers and will be a candidate when there’s a contest.”

In his resignation letter, Streeting stopped short of saying he would challenge the PM.

But he said: “It is now clear that you will not lead the Labour Party into the next general election and that Labour MPs and Labour unions want the debate about what comes next to be a battle of ideas, not of personalities or petty factionalism.

“It needs to be broad, and it needs the best possible field of candidates. I support that approach and I hope that you will facilitate this.”

A leadership contest appears inevitable, despite Starmer insisting he “won’t walk away” from No.10.

Cabinet ministers, including home secretary Shabana Mahmood and foreign secretary Yvette Cooper, have personally told the PM to set out a timetable for his departure.

More than 90 Labour MPs have so far publicly called on him to quit, while four junior ministers have also resigned from the government.

Andy Burnham kicked off his own attempt to be the next PM when it was announced that Labour MP Josh Simons is standing down to let the Greater Manchester mayor stand in his Makerfield seat.

Labour’s ruling national executive committee (NEC) is not expected to block Burnham’s bid to be the party’s candidate in the resulting by-election.

However, he faces a huge challenge to see off Reform UK and be elected the new MP for the constituency.

If Burnham wins, he is expected to immediately challenge Starmer, triggering a full leadership contest.

Others who could throw their hats into the ring include former deputy PM Angela Rayner, defence secretary John Healey, energy secretary Ed Miliband, Mahmood, Cooper and junior defence minister Al Carns

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Exclusive: Former Labour Minister Calls For Andy Burnham To Replace Keir Starmer

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A former Labour minister has called for Andy Burnham to replace Keir Starmer as prime minister.

Lord Dave Watts said the party should allow the Greater Manchester mayor to return to Westminster in a by-election, which would then pave the way for a leadership challenge.

Watts was a government whip under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, and also chair of the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) from 2012 until 2015.

His intervention came as Labour braced for a catastrophic set of results in elections across England and in Scotland and Wales.

The party is on course to lose more than 1,000 English councillors, and be resoundingly defeated in the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Senedd.

Writing for HuffPost UK, Lord Watts said: “The leadership question must be confronted head-on and without further delay.

“Does Keir Starmer possess the qualities required to steer the country through these turbulent times and reconnect with a disillusioned electorate? On the evidence of Thursday’s results, the answer is no.

“It’s clear we need a change, and many MPs and Labour voters are looking to the most successful and popular Labour politician, Andy Burnham, to provide that change.

“I believe that Andy should be allowed to stand in a by-election to boost Labour’s prospects and to provide the leadership needed.

“This is not a discussion that can be kicked into the long grass. Ministers need clear direction and the confidence that the prime minister is fully behind the bold changes necessary to regain public support.”

A senior Labour source said: “Dave Watts is not a usual suspect. He has always been a leadership loyalist.

“But he was the elected chair of the PLP for many years, and he’s right about Starmer. I think he is saying out loud what many in the PLP are thinking and whispering quietly to each other.

“These voices are only going to get louder. And no amount of Comical Ali spin from No.10 can change that.”

Starmer insisted on Friday morning that he took responsibility for Labour’s terrible performance, but insisted he will not “walk away” from Downing Street.

Burnham was a Labour MP from 2001 until 2017, but has made no secret of his desire to return to Westminster.

He tried to be Labour’s candidate in the Gorton and Denton by-election, but was blocked from standing by the party’s ruling national executive committee under orders from the PM.

However, speculation is mounting that a Labour MP is ready to trigger a by-election to allow Burnham to mount another comeback attempt.

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

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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”.

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

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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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