Labour’s National Executive Committee is no longer willing to block Andy Burnham’s return as an MP ahead of a possible plot to become leader as the “mood has now changed” within the party, it has been reported.
The Mayor of Greater Manchester was previously blocked from running in the Gorton and Denton by-election, but the 10-strong committee will now allow Burnham to return as “Keir looks much less worth defending”, one source told The Daily Telegraph.
“There was more of a feeling that Keir was worth protecting. Maybe there was a sense three months ago that there was a world in which Keir might rally, the local elections won’t go as badly – but that ship has now sailed,” the sourced added.
A second said “given the severity of the situation, people will be looking at all options”.
This comes as the party is expected to suffer catastrophic losses at the local elections with Wes Streeting and Angela Rayner prepared to replace Sir Keir Starmer.
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Andy Burnham ‘cleared to return as MP’ ahead of local election chaos
Andy Burnham ‘cleared to return as MP’ ahead of local election chaos
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Labour’s National Executive Committee is no longer willing to block Andy Burnham’s return as an MP ahead of a possible plot to become leader as the “mood has now changed” within the party, it has been reported.
The Mayor of Greater Manchester was previously blocked from running in the Gorton and Denton by-election, but the 10-strong committee will now allow Burnham to return as “Keir looks much less worth defending”, one source told The Daily Telegraph.
“There was more of a feeling that Keir was worth protecting. Maybe there was a sense three months ago that there was a world in which Keir might rally, the local elections won’t go as badly – but that ship has now sailed,” the sourced added.
A second said “given the severity of the situation, people will be looking at all options”.
This comes as the party is expected to suffer catastrophic losses at the local elections with Wes Streeting and Angela Rayner prepared to replace Sir Keir Starmer.