Labour MPs Condemn Starmer After Burnham Blockade Backfires in Manchester
Labour MPs turned sharply against Keir Starmer on Friday, expressing outrage over his decision to block Andy Burnham from standing as the party's candidate in the Manchester by-election. The Prime Minister faced clear and vocal anger as his political gamble appeared to backfire spectacularly, with voters deserting Labour in favour of the Green Party and Reform UK in the constituencies of Gorton and Denton.
Widespread Criticism from Within the Party
While Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham himself remained publicly reserved on Friday, numerous Labour MPs did not hold back. They queued up to assert that Burnham would have secured victory in the seat had he been permitted to stand. The backlash was ignited after the party's National Executive Committee, influenced by Sir Keir and his allies, vetoed Burnham's candidacy.
Karl Turner, the MP for Kingston upon Hull East, revealed he had 'begged' Sir Keir not to block the mayor, warning that the move was misguided. 'Andy Burnham would have won that by-election without a shadow of a doubt,' Turner stated, adding that the Prime Minister 'didn't listen to a word' of his pleas, even amid concerns that a parliamentary seat could provide Burnham a platform to mount a future leadership challenge.
Opposition Leaders Celebrate Labour's Misstep
Green Party leader Zack Polanski expressed jubilation at the news, admitting he 'punched the air' upon learning Burnham had been blocked. Similarly, Reform UK chairman David Bull declared Labour had 'made a very bad mistake,' bluntly stating, 'If you had fielded Andy Burnham, you would have won. Full stop.'
Polls and focus group data had suggested the self-styled 'King of the North' would have triumphed in the campaign, with Sir Keir's controversial decision becoming a recurring topic of discussion among voters.
Internal Accusations of Selfishness and Poor Judgment
Scottish Labour MP Brian Leishman accused Sir Keir of making a 'selfish mistake' in blocking Burnham, describing it as 'yet another example of him and his advisers making bad judgment calls.' Leeds East MP Richard Burgon placed blame squarely on the Prime Minister, saying, 'Blame for Labour's defeat lies squarely with Keir Starmer and his clique. They put factional interests over having the candidate best placed to win, Andy Burnham.'
Kate Osborne, Labour MP for Jarrow and Gateshead East, echoed this sentiment, stating the 'blame for Labour's defeat in Gorton and Denton sits with Keir Starmer and those running our party.' She added that blocking Burnham 'was not only obviously a huge error but also showed just how weak [Starmer] is.'
Peer Warns of Political Repercussions
A Labour peer, speaking anonymously, warned of lasting consequences, remarking, 'Andy would've won. Not everyone's a fan but most people think you should stand your best candidate. They sleepwalked their way into this car crash and Keir gambled by blocking Burnham. He'll pay the price for that.' The decision to nominate Angeliki Stogia instead followed claims the party could not financially sustain a mayoral run-off alongside May's local elections.
In the aftermath of the disappointing result, Sir Keir was directly questioned on whether he had erred in blocking Burnham. He defended the move, insisting Labour had fielded an 'excellent candidate,' but this did little to quell the internal dissent now threatening to undermine his authority within the party.
