Andy Burnham’s By-Election Bid Sparks Labour Turmoil

Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester and one of Labour’s most recognizable figures, has thrown British politics into a swirl of speculation and controversy by announcing his bid to stand in the Gorton and Denton by-election. The move, which could pave the way for his dramatic return to Parliament—and, potentially, a leadership challenge to Sir Keir Starmer—has ignited fierce debate across the Labour Party and beyond.

The by-election was triggered earlier this week, when Andrew Gwynne, the sitting Labour MP and former health minister, announced his resignation on January 22, 2026, citing health grounds. Gwynne’s departure set off a flurry of speculation about who might succeed him, but it was Burnham’s decision to seek the seat that truly set the stage for a political showdown. According to LabourList, Burnham confirmed his intentions publicly on January 24, stating he would seek permission from Labour’s National Executive Committee (NEC) to enter the selection process, with the deadline for applications set at just before midnight on January 25.

But here’s the twist: as a sitting metro mayor, Burnham cannot simply throw his hat into the ring. He must first be granted permission by a select group of ten officers from Labour’s NEC—a group that includes party heavyweights such as Keir Starmer, Lucy Powell, and Shabana Mahmood, among others. This ten-person panel is expected to meet on the morning of January 25 to make their decision, and reports suggest they may be inclined to block Burnham’s attempt. If the vote is tied, the chair, Shabana Mahmood, is thought to hold the deciding vote.

Burnham, who left Parliament in 2017 to become Greater Manchester’s first directly elected mayor, has long been seen as a potential rival to Starmer. His decision to seek a return to Westminster has been described by The Independent as both “difficult” and a response to “the moment to mount the strongest possible defence” of Labour’s values. In a letter to the NEC, Burnham assured he would support the government and had passed this assurance on to the prime minister, emphasizing his commitment to party unity rather than division.

Yet, unity seems in short supply. The news has exposed deep rifts within Labour. Some MPs accuse Burnham of “a show of ego” and suggest he is “on manoeuvres” for a leadership bid, while others, including senior party figures, insist he should not be blocked from standing. One Labour MP told The Independent, “If Keir Starmer tries to stitch up Burnham and succeeds, it will seal Keir Starmer’s fate. If Keir Starmer tries but fails, the outcome will be the same. Starmer should pull back from this madness and instruct those around him to do the same.”

Burnham’s own words, quoted by several outlets, paint the by-election as a battle for the soul of Manchester and, by extension, Labour itself. He wrote, “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.” He further argued that there is “a direct threat to everything Greater Manchester has always been about from a brand of politics which seeks to pit people against each other.”

While Burnham has been careful to praise the government’s work on rail renationalisation and tackling the housing crisis, he made clear his desire to “help it go further and faster.” He described his campaign as one that would be “hopeful and unifying,” focusing on both the achievements of Greater Manchester and the widespread alienation many feel from politics. “With [the NEC’s] permission to stand, I would run a hopeful and unifying campaign, with a broad appeal to voters, focusing on the positivity around what we have achieved, whilst at the same time being honest about the alienation that people feel from politics,” Burnham wrote, as reported by The New Statesman.

Burnham’s candidacy has attracted both public support and opposition from prominent Labour figures. At the Fabian Society’s annual conference, Deputy Labour Leader Lucy Powell and London Mayor Sadiq Khan urged the party to allow Burnham to stand. Khan declared, “I’m a firm believer in the best team having all the talent playing for them.” Energy Secretary Ed Miliband echoed this sentiment, saying, “I very much hope the local party will have the option of selecting Andy Burnham as the candidate.”

Yet, the opposition remains vocal. Scottish Labour MP Joani Reid warned, “It’s an energy-sapping distraction, which is why many of us would probably have preferred Andy Burnham to stay out of it.” Another Labour MP, speaking to The Independent, described Burnham’s move as “a meaningless distraction and a show of ego,” adding, “He doesn’t seem to care about the damage this will do to the party, politics in general or Manchester.”

The procedural hurdles are significant. If Burnham is granted permission by the NEC, he must resign as mayor—a move that would trigger another by-election for the Greater Manchester mayoralty. As of now, no date has been set for the Gorton and Denton by-election, nor for any potential mayoral contest. The NEC’s decision is seen as pivotal, with the potential to reshape not just the immediate contest, but the broader direction of Labour’s leadership and electoral fortunes.

Adding to the stakes, Labour’s polling position in Gorton and Denton is not what it once was. The seat, won by Andrew Gwynne with 51% of the vote in 2024, now faces strong challenges from Reform UK and the Green Party. Burnham himself acknowledged the risks, noting the “collapse in Labour’s polling position and the rise of both Reform UK and the Green Party.” This context has only heightened the sense of urgency and tension surrounding his candidacy.

For some within Labour, the controversy is about more than just Burnham’s ambitions. The Mainstream Labour group has launched a petition against what it calls “a stitch-up from the top,” arguing that “Labour can win in the Gorton and Denton by-election if we lead with our values and allow a fair, democratic and open selection for our candidate.” MP Chris Webb warned that blocking Burnham would have “serious lasting consequences,” while Richard Burgon wrote on X, “Fixing the selection to keep him off the ballot would be an affront to party democracy and a sign nasty factionalism is a higher priority than reversing the rise of Farage and Reform.”

On the other hand, some MPs—critical of both Burnham and Starmer—see the episode as an unnecessary drama. One told The Independent, “He just likes being the centre of attention. It’s craven and the worst kind of politics… He could have no doubt got elected in 2024 but chose not to.”

As the NEC prepares to make its decision, the outcome remains uncertain. Burnham’s supporters argue that his popularity and experience would make him a “massive asset” in Parliament, while his detractors warn of distraction and division. What’s clear is that, in the words of Ed Miliband, “Keir needs the best possible team serving under him in Parliament.” Whether Burnham will be part of that team—or whether his bid will deepen Labour’s internal rifts—will soon be decided.

With the deadline for candidate applications looming and the NEC’s meeting imminent, all eyes are on Labour’s next move. The party’s choice will not only determine the future of Gorton and Denton, but could also shape the leadership and direction of Labour itself in a critical election year.