Labour NEC Endorses Burnham, Opening Door to Left-Wing Power Struggle in Makerfield
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Labour's National Executive Committee has approved Andy Burnham, a figure of the party's left, to run in the Makerfield by-election, threatening further instability and division within Labour as Starmer faces mounting pressure.
Labour's National Executive Committee (NEC) has given Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham the green light to stand in the upcoming Makerfield by-election, a move that risks deepening the party’s internal chaos. This follows the resignation of MP Josh Simons, who conveniently stepped aside to allow Burnham—a prominent figure on Labour’s left and a champion of big-government policies—to return to Parliament.
If elected, Burnham is expected to challenge Prime Minister Keir Starmer for the Labour leadership, potentially dragging the party even further to the left. The NEC’s decision marks a troubling shift, especially after Burnham’s previous attempt to contest a by-election in January was rightly blocked to prevent factional infighting.
Applications for the Labour candidacy close on Monday, with a selection meeting scheduled for May 21. Although Makerfield has long been a Labour stronghold, the party’s ongoing lurch to the left and internal squabbling have opened the door for Reform UK to make significant gains, making the by-election far more competitive.
Prime Minister Starmer continues to resist calls for his resignation, despite disastrous local election results and a wave of cabinet resignations that highlight his weak leadership. Housing Secretary Steve Reed’s call to “take a breath” is emblematic of a party in denial about its failures and out of ideas for the country.
Burnham, meanwhile, has declared his intention to “bring the change we have brought to Greater Manchester to the whole of the UK and make politics work properly for people”—a thinly veiled promise to impose more leftist policies nationwide.
The Makerfield by-election could prove pivotal, potentially accelerating Labour’s descent into factionalism and radicalism, and further alienating the voters it needs to win.