All out war has broken out in the Labour Party.
Sir Keir Starmer’s allies have blocked the Mayor of Greater Manchester and leadership favourite Andy Burnham from standing in the Gorton and Denton by-election.
Mr Burnham responded on Twitter saying: “The fact that the media was informed of the NEC decision before I was tells you everything you need to know about the way the Labour Party is being run these days.
“You would think that over 30 years of service would count for something but sadly not.”
Many Labour figures are furious, saying this is proof that Labour is run top down, with tight control over selections, promotions and platforms.
The Prime Minister said today while his nose grew several inches, that the decision was made not to prevent a leadership threat, but for the sake of the people of Greater Manchester.
From the Prime Minister’s point of view, Mr Burnham re-entering Parliament would be a considerable threat, because he would be a serious contender for the leadership.
But, was Keir Starmer wrong?
Jacob Rees-Mogg says Wes Streeting ‘needs to act’ and put up a leadership fight to save the British people from ‘suffering’ from Starmer’s administration
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GB NEWS
If you are the leader, a threat of this nature needs to be stopped, and it needs to be done at the earliest possible stage. That is what Labour’s National Executive Committee, the NEC, has done.
For several years now, it has been internal Labour party policy that if an elected representative in any position wants to run for another, it must be put to the NEC.
Mr Burnham’s presence in Parliament would be disruptive and destabilise an already embattled Government.
Sir Keir Starmer is a terrible Prime Minister, the most unpopular since records began. But what he and his allies have done by blocking Andy Burnham is prevent another even worse Prime Minister from entering No10.
Sir Keir’s presence in No10 has become akin to that of Theresa May in the dying days of her administration – it has become a question of when, not if, he will go.
But when he goes, it is fortunate that his successor will not be Andy Burnham. And although this Government is hopeless, it risked becoming worse under Andy Burnham.
The other question this political warfare raises is where does this leave Wes Streeting.
The Health Secretary is the other central figure repeatedly reported as scheming to replace the Prime Minister. Mr Streeting denies this, but nevertheless the reports continue, the leaks continue and the polls still have him in a strong position.
It is time Wes Streeting took action, or he will miss the train, much like Michael Portillo in 1995.
Michael Portillo decided not to run, even after installing telephone line for his campaign, when Sir John Major eccentrically challenged his own leadership, as, much like Wes Streeting, Portillo was serving in the Cabinet, was not ready to launch what could be seen as a coup, and was still seen as a ‘future contender’.
As a result, he missed his chance, dramatically lost his seat in 1997, and never became the leader. Wes Streeting’s seat is marginal, could easily be lost, and then his chance would be gone.
Wes Streeting needs to act now, or the shambolic Starmer administration will continue in Government but not in power, and it is the British people who will suffer.