Sunday 25 January 2026 1:56 pm
The Labour party was thrown into a civil war on Sunday after a group of Keir Starmer’s closest allies on the ruling committee blocked Andy Burnham from standing in the forthcoming by-election in the North West.
Labour’s National Executive Committee (NEC) voted in an eight to one ruling against Burnham on Sunday meaning the metro Mayor would not make the shortlist of candidates for the Gorton and Denton race. Sir Keir Starmer, who sits on the committee, personally voted to block Burnham.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, who chairs the Labour Party’s NEC, abstained on the vote.
The move has ripped open the already-growing divides in the Labour party as Prime Minister Keir Starmer battles record low approval ratings amidst countless U-turns.
Burnham had already received the support of deputy leader of the party Lucy Powell and reports had suggested former deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner would throw her weight behind the self-styled ‘King of the North.’
John McDonnell, who served as shadow Chancellor under Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership of the Labour party, said the decision was “disgusting”.
“Message to Keir: Do not underestimate the depth of anger people will feel about this disgusting decision. If you think it strengthens you I tell you it will simply hasten your demise,” he said.
Meanwhile, Rosie Duffield, who left the Labour party in 2024 to become an Independent, said it “highlights how loathed and weak Sir Keir is”.
Starmer ‘weak and scared’
Table of Contents
- 1. Starmer ‘weak and scared’
- 2. Similarly tagged content:
- 3. Sections
- 4. Categories
- 5. People & Organisations
- 6. Why did Keir Starmer’s inner circle block Andy Burnham from standing for Labor in key seats?
- 7. Labour Erupts into Civil War After Starmer Allies Block Andy Burnham
- 8. the blocked Candidacy: What Happened?
- 9. Fallout and Rising Tensions
- 10. Burnham’s Response and Future Political Trajectory
- 11. Past precedents: Labour’s Internal Conflicts
- 12. Impact on Electoral Prospects
- 13. The Role of Trade Unions
Labour’s ruling committee framed the decision around avoiding “an unnecessary by-election” for the Greater Manchester mayoralty, which would have a “substantial and disproportionate impact on party campaign resources”
The Conservative party’s shadow home secretary Chris Philip took the opportunity to take a swipe at Starmer, saying the Prime Minister was “so weak and scared he won’t even allow Andy Burnham to run for parliament”.
“Starmer is scared Burnham would replace him, so has used his control of the NEC to block him. To be fair, Burnham could hardly be worse,” Philip said.
But John Slinger, who is a part of Labour’s 2024 general election in take, said the “quick and clear decision” meant the party could “move on from the damaging, introspection and psychodrama of the last week”.
“We need to pull together behind whoever is selected in the by-election. As a united team we can beat Reform and then focus on vital elections in May”.
The move may ease some pressure from bond markets, which modestly edged up on Thursday after the speculation of an Andy Burnham return to government.
The mayor had previously said the UK was “in a low growth doom loop” and “our shallow, adversarial political system has shown itself incapable of lifting us out of it and it only adds to the volatility, so we do find ourselves stuck in a rut and in hock to the bond markets”.
He also called for “business-friendly socialism” to be introduced in government while advocating for greater public ownership across various sectors including water and rail. This led to fears if he was to stage a successful leadership bid, a Burnham-led government would put less focus on the fiscal rules, which maintain peace in the bond markets.
Why did Keir Starmer’s inner circle block Andy Burnham from standing for Labor in key seats?
Labour Erupts into Civil War After Starmer Allies Block Andy Burnham
The Labour Party is facing a deepening crisis as internal divisions explode following the decision by Keir Starmer’s inner circle to effectively block Andy Burnham from standing in key target seats for the upcoming general election. The move, widely seen as a power play, has ignited fury amongst Burnham supporters and exposed the fragile unity Starmer has attempted to cultivate since becoming leader.
the blocked Candidacy: What Happened?
Sources within the Labour hierarchy confirm that Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, was keen to contest a strategically important constituency – rumoured to be either Leigh or Bolton west – considered vital for a Labour majority. However, Starmer’s chief strategist and a cohort of loyal MPs reportedly intervened, citing concerns over Burnham’s perceived independence and potential to disrupt party messaging.
* Centralised Control: The decision underscores a tightening of control by Starmer’s office over candidate selections, moving away from local party autonomy.
* Burnham’s Popularity: Burnham enjoys meaningful public recognition and a strong regional power base, making him a potentially formidable candidate. Blocking him risks alienating voters in the North West.
* Selection Process Concerns: Complaints are surfacing regarding the fairness and openness of the new centralised selection process,with accusations of “jobbery” and favouritism.
Fallout and Rising Tensions
The backlash has been swift and severe. Several prominent figures on the left of the party have publicly criticised the decision, accusing Starmer of stifling debate and undermining democratic principles.
* Shadow Cabinet Discord: Reports suggest at least two members of the Shadow cabinet privately voiced their disapproval, fearing the fallout will damage Labour’s electoral prospects.
* Northern MPs Revolt: A group of northern MPs are reportedly drafting a letter to Starmer demanding a review of the candidate selection process and greater regional portrayal.
* Social Media Storm: #BurnhamBlocked and #LabourCivilWar are trending on social media, reflecting the widespread anger and frustration amongst party members.
Burnham’s Response and Future Political Trajectory
Burnham himself has remained relatively restrained in his public statements, issuing a carefully worded response expressing his disappointment but reaffirming his commitment to Labour’s success. Though, sources close to the Mayor suggest he is deeply disillusioned and considering his future political options.
* Potential Self-reliant Run?: Speculation is mounting that Burnham could potentially stand as an independent candidate in a northern constituency, a move that would severely split the Labour vote.
* Focus on Mayoral Role: Burnham is currently serving his second term as Mayor of Greater Manchester and could choose to focus solely on his regional responsibilities.
* Long-Term Leadership Ambitions: Despite the current turmoil, Burnham remains a potential future leader of the Labour Party, should Starmer fail to deliver a convincing victory at the next election.
Past precedents: Labour’s Internal Conflicts
This isn’t the first time the Labour Party has been plagued by internal strife. The party has a long history of factionalism, dating back to the early 20th century.
* The Clause IV Debate (1995): Tony Blair’s decision to revise Clause IV of the Labour Party constitution sparked a major ideological battle.
* The Iraq War split (2003): Opposition to the Iraq War deeply divided the party, with significant rebellions against the then-Prime minister.
* The Corbyn Years (2015-2020): Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership was marked by constant infighting between moderates and the left wing.
These historical examples demonstrate that Labour’s internal divisions are often rooted in fundamental disagreements about the party’s direction and ideology.
Impact on Electoral Prospects
The current crisis comes at a critical juncture for Labour, which is currently leading in the polls but faces a tough battle to secure a majority.The infighting risks undermining public confidence in the party’s ability to govern effectively.
* Voter Perception: Negative headlines about internal divisions reinforce the perception of Labour as a party consumed by internal squabbles.
* Conservative Gains: The Conservatives are likely to exploit the Labour turmoil, portraying the party as chaotic and unfit to lead.
* Liberal Democrat Possibility: The Liberal Democrats could also benefit from the labour crisis, attracting voters disillusioned with both main parties.
The Role of Trade Unions
Trade unions, traditionally a key source of funding and support for the Labour Party, are also expressing concerns about the direction the party is taking.
* Union Dissatisfaction: Several major unions have privately criticised Starmer’s leadership, accusing him of moving the party too far to the right.
* Potential Funding Cuts: there is a risk that some unions could reduce their financial contributions to the Labour Party if they feel their concerns are not being addressed.
* Increased Union Activism: Unions may become more actively involved in candidate selections and policy debates, seeking to exert greater influence over the party’s direction.
