Manchester MPs rule out standing aside for Andy Burnham
Andy Burnham’s route back to Westminster remained unclear on Wednesday night as some of Manchester’s Labour MPs ruled out standing aside for him.
None of the city’s constituencies appear to offer a path to parliament for the Greater Manchester mayor.
Jeff Smith, Labour MP for the student-heavy seat of Manchester Withington, and Afzal Khan, Labour MP for the diverse adjacent constituency of Manchester Rusholme, told the FT they would not be standing aside for Burnham.
Burnham’s potential bid for the Labour leadership has prompted months of speculation over which MP might quit to vacate a seat for him. He needs to be an MP to contest the leadership.
The city of Manchester, where Burnham’s office is based, contains four other seats besides Rusholme and Withington.
Graham Stringer, Labour MP for Blackley and Middleton South, has repeatedly ruled out standing aside for Burnham.
Wythenshawe and Sale East Labour MP Mike Kane, a former transport minister sacked by Sir Keir Starmer in a reshuffle last year, has told friends he would not do so.
The remaining seats are held by Lucy Powell, who represents Manchester Central and is deputy leader of the Labour Party, and Hannah Spencer, who won Gorton and Denton for the Greens in a parliamentary by-election in February.
Greater Manchester more broadly contains a further 18 seats, while Burnham has also been eyeing up Merseyside, where he was born.
Starmer seeks to shore up his leadership
Sir Keir Starmer on Wednesday launched a House of Commons operation to shore up his leadership, telling supporters he will stand and fight for his job if Wes Streeting tries to topple him.
Starmer met ministers and Labour MPs in parliament during the course of Wednesday afternoon, with Labour officials insisting that there had been a “big show of support” for the prime minister.
The prime minister also dispatched cabinet ministers to the House of Commons tea room to warn MPs that “a leadership election would paralyse the ability of the government to get things done for months”, Labour officials said.
Labour backbench group urges restraint
Labour’s parliamentary committee has told colleagues who are “co-ordinating the statements and resignations to stop”.
The group of six Labour MPs, who represent backbenchers in the party, circulated a memo on Wednesday urging colleagues to channel their views through the committee rather than airing grievances about Sir Keir Starmer publicly.
Having canvassed views from the Parliamentary Labour Party, there was a widespread opinion that “there will be lasting damage if the current position continues”, they added.
They said: “We are grateful for all the MPs who have spoken to us, in confidence, and told us what they would like to happen next. We will honestly reflect those back to the prime minister when we meet him.”