Labor erupted into civil war after Starmer’s allies blocked Andy Burnham

Sunday 25 January 2026 13.56

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Labor was plunged into civil war on Sunday after a group of Keir Starmer’s closest allies on the ruling committee blocked Andy Burnham from standing in the upcoming North West by-election.

The Labor Party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) voted in an eight-to-one decision against Burnham on Sunday meaning the metro Mayor will not be on the shortlist of candidates for the Gorton and Denton by-election. Sir Keir Starmer, who sits on the committee, personally voted to block Burnham.

Home Minister Shabana Mahmood, who chairs the Labor Party’s NEC, abstained from the vote.

The move has torn apart already growing divisions in the Labor Party as Prime Minister Keir Starmer battles record low levels of support amid a slew of U-turns.

Burnham has received support from party deputy leader Lucy Powell and reports suggest former deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner will support the self-styled ‘King of the North’.

John McDonnell, who served as Shadow Chancellor under Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn, said the decision was “disgusting”.

“Message to Keir: Don’t underestimate the extent of people’s anger at this disgusting decision. If you think this empowers you, I say it will only hasten your death,” he said.

Meanwhile, Rosie Duffield, who is leaving Labor in 2024 to become an Independent, said it “highlights how hated and weak Sir Keir is”.

Starmer ‘weak and scared’

The ruling Labor Party committee framed the decision as avoiding an “unnecessary by-election” for the post of mayor of Greater Manchester, which would have had a “major and disproportionate impact on the party’s campaign resources”

The Conservative shadow Home Secretary, Chris Philip, took the opportunity to slam Starmer, saying the Prime Minister was “so weak and scared that he wouldn’t even allow Andy Burnham to stand for parliament”.

“Starmer was afraid Burnham would replace him, so he used his control of the NEC to block her. To be fair, Burnham couldn’t have done worse,” Philip said.

But John Slinger, who is part of Labour’s 2024 general election, said a “quick and clear decision” meant the party could “move on from the introspection, and damaging psychodrama of the last week”.

“We need to come together to support whoever is elected in the by-election. As a united team we can defeat Reform and then focus on the important elections in May.”

The move may take some pressure off the bond market, which rose slightly on Thursday after speculation of Andy Burnham’s return to government.

The mayor previously said the UK was “in a downward spiral of low growth” and “our shallow and hostile political system has shown it is incapable of lifting us out of crisis and this has only added to volatility, leaving us stuck in a rut and mired in bond markets”.

He also called for “business-friendly socialism” to be introduced in government while advocating for greater public ownership in sectors including water and rail. This raises concerns that if he succeeds in running for leader, a Burnham-led government will focus less on fiscal rules, which maintain peace in bond markets.