Starmerites Prepare to Prevent Andy Burnham’s Path to Parliament – Guido Fawkes

Starmerites Prepare to Prevent Andy Burnham’s Path to Parliament

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The Labour Party machine is preparing means to stymie Andy Burnham’s path to parliament. Rumours have raced around Westminster since Guido reported on Burnham’s quest for a seat this month…

Some Labour MPs think the King of the North can save the party’s fortunes by the next election and speculation has centred on a potential by-election in suspended Andrew Gwynne’s seat of Gorton and Denton. Not so fast…

Members of the notorious “Trigger me Timbers” WhatsApp group are being let back into the party – Oliver Ryan MP received the whip again. There has been no decision yet for Gwynne, who has been since 18 February subject to an investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards relating to Rule 11 – “Actions causing significant damage to the reputation of the House as a whole, or of its Members generally.” The result will presumably inform Gwynne’s fate in the party. Some close to the ex-minister think he has a way back in there…

If Gwynne is ejected from parliament Labour sources tell Guido that the mostly Starmer-loyal National Executive Committee of the party would stand in his way and force an open selection for the seat. That would be unusual as by-elections usually have a shorter process – the NEC would struggle to justify keeping Burnham off the shortlist if he made his interest known. Constituency party sources say Burnham is popular and seen as one of the few who could win a by-election anyway. Forcing an open selection would then be risky for the NEC. Guido wonders if they plan on utilising the Anonyvoter system…

Burnham would have to resign or conclude his time as mayor to become a member of Parliament and it would be a mission for Labour to keep him away. Though Starmerites may find Labour HQ less keen to defend the leader now they are all on Whitehall as SpAds…