Andy Burnham's potential return to Parliament has ignited a heated debate within the Labour Party, with many wondering whether he sees himself as the star player or team captain. The question is particularly pertinent given the party's current state - struggling in the polls and facing pressure from Keir Starmer's leadership.
Burnham has denied any plans to undermine the government, claiming he would support their work rather than hinder it. However, many within Labour remain skeptical, drawing parallels with Boris Johnson's byelection win as a precursor to his Downing Street ambitions. Despite this, Burnham enjoys high regional approval ratings in the North West, where his expertise as a mayor has earned him a +25 rating among voters.
Despite party insiders pointing out that diverting £500,000 of funding from other elections for a mayoral byelection would be prohibitive, Burnham's allies argue that he is essential to Labour's success. Ed Miliband and Sadiq Khan have publicly backed his bid, while unions and numerous MPs are also rallying around him.
If Burnham were successful in winning the seat, it could give him a powerful platform from which to challenge Starmer for the leadership. The stakes would be high - the party is on shaky ground, with many MPs fearing that Starmer's leadership will prove impossible to turn around. By returning to Parliament, Burnham would be poised to strike, potentially catching Starmer off guard.
Moreover, if a coup were to occur less than two years after winning a majority, it could damage Labour's reputation further and lead them down the same path as the Tories, who have had five prime ministers in under 10 years. Lucy Powell, Burnham's deputy leader, inadvertently highlighted this concern during her speech at the Fabian conference, saying that people need to "get behind Keir Starmer" rather than engaging in infighting.
As the situation unfolds, one thing is clear: if Andy Burnham returns to Parliament, it would be a significant development for Labour and potentially have far-reaching implications for Keir Starmer's leadership.
Burnham has denied any plans to undermine the government, claiming he would support their work rather than hinder it. However, many within Labour remain skeptical, drawing parallels with Boris Johnson's byelection win as a precursor to his Downing Street ambitions. Despite this, Burnham enjoys high regional approval ratings in the North West, where his expertise as a mayor has earned him a +25 rating among voters.
Despite party insiders pointing out that diverting £500,000 of funding from other elections for a mayoral byelection would be prohibitive, Burnham's allies argue that he is essential to Labour's success. Ed Miliband and Sadiq Khan have publicly backed his bid, while unions and numerous MPs are also rallying around him.
If Burnham were successful in winning the seat, it could give him a powerful platform from which to challenge Starmer for the leadership. The stakes would be high - the party is on shaky ground, with many MPs fearing that Starmer's leadership will prove impossible to turn around. By returning to Parliament, Burnham would be poised to strike, potentially catching Starmer off guard.
Moreover, if a coup were to occur less than two years after winning a majority, it could damage Labour's reputation further and lead them down the same path as the Tories, who have had five prime ministers in under 10 years. Lucy Powell, Burnham's deputy leader, inadvertently highlighted this concern during her speech at the Fabian conference, saying that people need to "get behind Keir Starmer" rather than engaging in infighting.
As the situation unfolds, one thing is clear: if Andy Burnham returns to Parliament, it would be a significant development for Labour and potentially have far-reaching implications for Keir Starmer's leadership.
... I mean, has he thought through how that would play out? Like, is he really ready to take on all those MPs who have been loyal to Starmer all this time?
And does anyone actually think he'd be able to bring those same voters on board if he were in Parliament?
. We've been waiting for someone like Andy Burnham to shake things up since Jeremy Corbyn left 
. And honestly, if he does win that seat, I think it could be a breath of fresh air 
️. The party's been in a bit of a rut lately and we need someone with his experience and track record to help turn things around 
.
. It's crazy to think that Burnham could follow a similar path 
. And if he does, it'll be interesting to see how Keir Starmer reacts 
. The party needs someone who can bring people together rather than driving them apart 
.
. They're not just throwing their weight behind him because they want to see a challenge to Starmer, but because they genuinely believe he's the right person for the job 
. And let's be real, we've seen what happens when Labour gets stuck in a rut 
... it's time for someone to shake things up!
. The thing is, Burnham has built a strong reputation in the North West and people love him there. He's got a lot of experience too - being mayor and all that. Plus, his allies are really rallying around him, which suggests he's not just some flash-in-the-pan politician 
.
can't believe how much drama this whole thing is causing 
but like, let's get real here... if he wins that seat he'll be a major thorn in keir starmer's side 
and honestly i think labour needs to figure out what they want from him ASAP 
is it team captain or star player? 
the party's already got its back against the wall, do they really need another controversy? 
. Burnham's got the regional approval ratings on his side, which is a good starting point. But is this really about saving the party or just Burnham's own ambitions? 
. We've seen this kind of playbook before with Boris Johnson, and it always ends in disaster 
. And what's really going on here is Labour's internal power struggle 
. They're too divided to take on the Tories effectively, so they're scrambling for a savior figure like Burnham 
. The problem is, if he does win that seat, it'll just be more proof of their infighting and inability to present a unified front 