Andy Burnham Eyeing Return to Parliament in 2029 – Guido Fawkes

Andy Burnham Eyeing Return to Parliament in 2029

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The King of the North still has ambitions within the M25. Labour sources say Andy Burnham’s allies are exploring ways to bag their man a parliamentary seat at the next general election – and perhaps throw his hat in the ring for any leadership challenge that may arise, should a vacancy appear. Burnham’s third term as Mayor of Greater Manchester expires in May 2028, which is a convenient time to plot a return to Westminster the following year. Burnham himself is getting quite good at dodging the question, though he has previously claimed he is “not ruling out a return to Westminster at some point”…

Recent IPSOS polling shows Burnham (35%) beats Starmer (26%), Rayner (23%) and Streeting (19%) among the public on the question of who would be a good Labour leader. This will not have gone unnoticed up in Manchester. Within Westminster, Rayner is the name cropping up the most as the frontrunner to succeed Starmer, whenever that may be. Until recently, in both public and in private she has shot down any suggestion she’d fancy the top job – though Guido noticed her change of tune last month. The problem for Rayner, Streeting, or any other cabinet minister eyeing the prize is they’re contaminated by the unpopularity of the current government, and many have slim (or tiny) majorities which could be wiped out in 2029. Not a problem for The King of the North…