Andy Burnham blocked from re-entering parliament.

Whoever is in power has to deal with the adverse fall out of Brexit. There are many of us, myself included that do not want a Reform government.

However I worry how well Reform are performing in polls. I worry about Reform being elected. I worry about Reform winning the Gorton and Denton by election. I particulalrly worry about Starmer's personal poll ratings successively getting worse as well as poor Labour Party ratings in the poll. I worry about the recent untrue briefings against Burnham by Starmer allies- thats really not a good look form Downing Street- and underlines there is infighting going on at the top of government.

If sticking with Starmer means Labour will lose the next election are Labour Party members and voters willing to pay that price?

Burnham is not able to be considered a PM contender now as he has not been allowed to stand for election as an MP. There are other contenders however. Whilst I can understand those who say that they wish leadership contests and infighting to stop- the reality is with Starmer personally polling so badly- it is likely to continue. At some stage there has to be a reckoning- what is best for the party.

MayBee70

If Starmer is all that stands between us and a Reform government I’m prepared to back Starmer. However, as a party member that doesn’t mean that I won’t be criticising things that I think are wrong or writing to my MP. Now is not the right time for infighting or leadership elections. And I still maintain that a lot of our economic woes are a result of Brexit which is still theelephantintheroom and that isn’t Keir’s fault, having been a staunch remainer ( unlike Corbyn).

Good post. And that is how I feel.

I vowed the if Labour got into power, I would never support everything they did, my faculties are not so dimmed as many Tory supporters faculties seemed to be at the time.

I will also have very high expectations of the government I support .

But I agree that in-fighting and leadership contests must stop.

Reform is the countries enemy - I do not want a mini-Trumpland.

Every day it becomes clearer that Brexit should never have happened, and the judgement and harm done by those who led the way means that they will never be fit for government.

eazybee

The key to Starmer's character is his close association with the convicted fraudster and disgraced solicitor Phil Shiner, who was responsible for many false accusations, subsequently discredited, against British soldiers. Starmer worked pro bono with human rights groups on a landmark legal case attempting to replace British combat law with that of ECHR law. Also involved was his 'close friend and ally' Richard Hermer, Head of Chambers, later raised to the peerage by Starmer to become the unelected Attorney General .

With regard to NEC ruling, I heard or read that Starmer had 'realigned.' the rules concerning appointments of prospective MP candidates at the beginning of this year and also insisted on being involved in the voting process , but I am unable to verify where or by whom.
I doubt anyone will be able to remove Starmer however disastrous his Premiership; he will use his interpretation of the law to stay in power, and fear that rules on the timing of elections may well be altered also, in a blatant attempt to repress challenges.
A bleak future.

The Telegraph’s story “contains flagrant inaccuracies”, the Downing Street spokesman told reporters.
“The Prime Minister did not represent the claimants in this case. The Prime Minister did not work alongside Phil Shiner on this case. The Prime Minister was not the lead barrister in the claim.
“The Prime Minister represented interveners, including the Law Society of England and Wales.
“Interveners do not advocate for either side. Their role is to assist the court on points of law.
“During his career, the Prime Minister has represented British soldiers who were killed in action and were wrongly accused.
“The Prime Minister will never forget the courage, bravery and sacrifice made by British servicemen and women for their country.”

If Starmer is all that stands between us and a Reform government I’m prepared to back Starmer. However, as a party member that doesn’t mean that I won’t be criticising things that I think are wrong or writing to my MP. Now is not the right time for infighting or leadership elections. And I still maintain that a lot of our economic woes are a result of Brexit which is still theelephantintheroom and that isn’t Keir’s fault, having been a staunch remainer ( unlike Corbyn).

There is no such thing as a key to anybody’s character, people are complex, multi faceted, motivated in different ways, and shaped by their opportunities and life experiences.

The key to Starmer's character is his close association with the convicted fraudster and disgraced solicitor Phil Shiner, who was responsible for many false accusations, subsequently discredited, against British soldiers. Starmer worked pro bono with human rights groups on a landmark legal case attempting to replace British combat law with that of ECHR law. Also involved was his 'close friend and ally' Richard Hermer, Head of Chambers, later raised to the peerage by Starmer to become the unelected Attorney General .

With regard to NEC ruling, I heard or read that Starmer had 'realigned.' the rules concerning appointments of prospective MP candidates at the beginning of this year and also insisted on being involved in the voting process , but I am unable to verify where or by whom.
I doubt anyone will be able to remove Starmer however disastrous his Premiership; he will use his interpretation of the law to stay in power, and fear that rules on the timing of elections may well be altered also, in a blatant attempt to repress challenges.
A bleak future.

I have lost the plot on this conversation I must admit.

Ilovecheese

I don't think the Labour candidate has been chosen yet have they? So a bit difficult to campaign alongside.

That wasn’t what I was suggesting.

Maybee70- 18.54 👍💐

I don't think the Labour candidate has been chosen yet have they? So a bit difficult to campaign alongside.

LemonJam

Thanks Maybee70- I had understood that you were suggesting B campaign alongside the Labour candidate chosen to be MP in the Gorton and Denton by election. I responded on that basis. If I misunderstood please disregard my comments on that matter.

No worries. I confuse myself sometimes!

Thanks Maybee70- I had understood that you were suggesting B campaign alongside the Labour candidate chosen to be MP in the Gorton and Denton by election. I responded on that basis. If I misunderstood please disregard my comments on that matter.

You don't have to agree with my comments and observations Casdon- it wouldn't do if we were all the same. I disagreed with Maybee70s comments and responded accordingly.

However I think Maybee70 was suggesting B campaign with the Labour by-election candidate not a non Labour candidate and Iresponded on that basis.

LemonJam

Maybee70 17.09- I feel fairly sure Burnham and others realise there is no "right to be leader of the party" or that they can "walk into the role". I feel confident Burnham knows there is a designated election process or vote of no confidence process.

I am sure the Manchester Mayor role is a busy job, with long hours and commitments in the diary that the Mayor is expected to attend, on behalf of his constituents, during the by-election campaign period. It's the same for the PM and other cabinet minsters. The PM may or may not make a brief appearance to express support for the candidate but will not put his PM job on hold to campaign actively.

Anyway the NEC decided Burnham could not stand so its not his responsibility to support the candidate that is chosen or campaign alongside them. Hopefully the respective candidate will take the campaigning lead on and rightfully get all the glory if they win.

I didn’t mean that Burnham should campaign for the candidate now: I meant that he could have not attempted to stand but campaign for whoever did stand in the way that Lee Anderson is campaigning for the Reform candidate. His high profile would have helped the Labour candidate enormously.

I don’t follow the rationale LemonJam, from the comments either of you made, as it isn’t going to make any difference to Andy Burnham’s position now. As mayor it’s not a benefit to him to work with a non Labour MP, and he needs to keep his powder dry now, a lot of people are cross with him. If I were him I’d get my head down and continue the good mayoral work.

Casdon- I was responding to Maybee70 17.09 and her particular comment "As it is it seems to me that he wants Labour to lose the seat and, if they do he’s contributing towards that loss".

Quote MayBee70 Wed 28-Jan-26 17:09:07
I don’t understand why Burnham couldn’t have campaigned for whoever Labour stand at the election. He would have got plenty of glory from a Labour win. Then, after fulfilling his role as Manchesters mayor could have contested a seat at the next election. As it is it seems to me that he wants Labour to lose the seat and, if they do he’s contributing towards that loss. I feel that he thinks that it is somehow his right to be leader of the party even though he failed twice to achieve that and stopped being an MP. Would he be so desperate to be an MP again if Labour were still in opposition and he was getting didn’t think that he could walk into the role of Prime Minister after Keir did all of the work to achieve that election victory?

He was fully aware of the rumbling from the far left,he could be assured of much support from there, one of the first to criticise the decision to prevent him standing in May was John MacDonnell ! Were Burnham’s thoughts ‘ third time lucky’

I don’t follow that thinking, LemonJam, who do you think would blame Burnham, and vote differently as a result, and why?

I also think its very unfair, if Labour lose Gorton and Denton at the by election to say Burnham is somehow to Balme as he would have contributed to such a loss. He was willing to take the risk (success not a fore gone conclusion) in putting himself forward for election and was disallowed.

Maybee70 17.09- I feel fairly sure Burnham and others realise there is no "right to be leader of the party" or that they can "walk into the role". I feel confident Burnham knows there is a designated election process or vote of no confidence process.

I am sure the Manchester Mayor role is a busy job, with long hours and commitments in the diary that the Mayor is expected to attend, on behalf of his constituents, during the by-election campaign period. It's the same for the PM and other cabinet minsters. The PM may or may not make a brief appearance to express support for the candidate but will not put his PM job on hold to campaign actively.

Anyway the NEC decided Burnham could not stand so its not his responsibility to support the candidate that is chosen or campaign alongside them. Hopefully the respective candidate will take the campaigning lead on and rightfully get all the glory if they win.

I don’t understand why Burnham couldn’t have campaigned for whoever Labour stand at the election. He would have got plenty of glory from a Labour win. Then, after fulfilling his role as Manchesters mayor could have contested a seat at the next election. As it is it seems to me that he wants Labour to lose the seat and, if they do he’s contributing towards that loss. I feel that he thinks that it is somehow his right to be leader of the party even though he failed twice to achieve that and stopped being an MP. Would he be so desperate to be an MP again if Labour were still in opposition and didn’t think that he could walk into the role of Prime Minister after Keir did all of the work to achieve that election victory? I think not.

Boz

The big elephant in the room for Labour seems to be their perceived will and inability to tackle immigration issues,
I can see Right wing removal tactics coming to a city near you soon.
Monkey see, monkey do.

There is already a removal process in action illegal migrants are regularly caught and deported to so called safe countries

Over 36000 were deported last year, it’s the boat migrants that abuse the asylum system that are the problem.

It is true that Burnham could resign as Mayor and contest the byelection as an independant, in which case he would likely lose. It is in the Labour parties interest to keep him in power as Mayor because he may well get beaten as an MP even as an official candidate which would be a disaster.

If he were to win he would be a rallying point for those wanting to replace Starmer and cause open warfare in the party.

Can we get this right once and for all.

Manchester is a city to that is located within Greater Manchester

So what areas make up Greater Manchester

Local Areas - 10GM
Greater Manchester is composed of 10 metropolitan boroughs: Manchester, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Oldham, Rochdale, Bury, Bolton, Trafford, and Wigan, which contain many distinct towns, cities (like Stockport, Bolton, Rochdale), and vibrant areas such as Altrincham, Ashton-under-Lyne, Bury, Eccles, and the city centre districts like Ancoats, Castlefield, Deansgate, and the Northern Quarter.

Fair enough. If you all want a leadership election at a time like this then sobeit. Let Labour morph into the last Conservative government. I’m tired of it all. Let Burnham save the country and deal with Trump.