Union Leader Delivers Stark Warning to Labour Leadership Over Burnham Exclusion
The head of Britain's largest trade union has issued a direct warning to Prime Minister Keir Starmer following the controversial decision to block Andy Burnham from standing for Parliament. Andrea Egan, the newly elected General Secretary of Unison, declared on Tuesday night that she would not allow the current Labour leadership to "take us down with them" in what she described as a "cynical stitch-up."
Breaking Ranks Over "Control Freakery"
In a significant intervention published in the socialist Tribune magazine, Ms Egan made clear her willingness to break ranks with the Labour Party hierarchy over what she perceives as damaging factionalism. Representing 1.3 million union members and positioned as a left-wing ally of Mr Burnham, she warned that the Prime Minister "cannot afford any more" mistakes following this latest exclusion.
"I know that I speak for many of my colleagues across the trade union movement, and in chorus with a significant number of Labour MPs, when I say that we cannot allow those currently in charge of the party to take us down with them," Egan wrote in her Tribune piece. She pointed specifically to what she called "corrosive factionalism" and "extreme intolerance for different views" within Labour's current leadership structure.
Growing Backlash Threatens Party Unity
The backlash against Starmer's decision to prevent the Greater Manchester mayor from contesting the Gorton and Denton by-election continues to intensify, threatening to plunge Labour into deeper internal conflict. On Tuesday, the heads of the soft-Left Tribune group representing approximately 120 Labour MPs sent a formal letter to party officials expressing their "disappointment" with the move.
This follows an earlier letter spearheaded by Labour MP Clive Lewis that garnered signatures from more than 50 parliamentarians across all party factions, though sources have questioned the precise number of signatories. Crucially, the number of Labour MPs expressing discomfort about the Burnham blocking now significantly exceeds the 81 required to trigger any future leadership challenge within the party.
Leadership Rivals Circle as Criticism Mounts
Former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner, who has publicly supported Burnham's right to stand and is frequently mentioned as a potential leadership contender, told supporters on Tuesday: "I'm not dead yet." Her allies have suggested she could command support from approximately 80 MPs ready to back a leadership bid when circumstances permit, according to reports in The Times.
Labour MP Charlotte Nichols added to the criticism, telling the Jewish Chronicle that blocking Burnham represented "madness." She argued that effective leaders should "encourage and develop other people around them" rather than "cut the knees out from anyone who looks like they're coming up behind them."
Local Activists Demand Reversal
Seventeen members of the Gorton and Denton local Labour Party have written directly to the Prime Minister demanding that the National Executive Committee reverse its decision. Their letter states that the NEC "should reverse the decision" and complains that their "future has been played by party figures in Westminster."
The by-election to replace former Labour MP Andrew Gwynne, who was suspended last year following revelations about offensive WhatsApp messages, is scheduled for February 26. Once considered a safe Labour seat, Gorton and Denton is now viewed as a three-way marginal contest between Labour, Reform UK, and the Green Party.
Recent polling indicates the constituency could potentially fall to Reform UK at the next general election, with Green Party officials also expressing confidence about their prospects in the upcoming vote.
Contradictory Accounts Emerge
Earlier on Tuesday, Andy Burnham himself contradicted claims from sources close to the Prime Minister, stating it was "simply untrue" that he had been warned about being blocked by figures from Number 10. These sources had reportedly claimed Burnham was informed he would be rejected if he applied and accused him of proceeding anyway to "destabilise" Starmer's leadership.
The Starmer-controlled panel of Labour's National Executive Committee voted overwhelmingly against Burnham's candidacy by eight votes to one on Sunday, with the Prime Minister personally leading efforts to prevent his rival from standing. Critics within the party have warned that Starmer's attempts to consolidate control may ultimately "hasten his demise" rather than secure his position.
