Rebuffed Burnham can return to honing his stature and attack lines

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 3 min read 100% complete by Peter Walker Senior political correspondentJanuary 25, 2026 at 07:37 PM

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Andy Burnham's attempt to return to Westminster was blocked, leading him to resume his duties as Mayor of Greater Manchester. He is also known for subtly challenging Labour leader Keir Starmer, particularly when Starmer faces political difficulties. Burnham's recent attempt to become a candidate in the Gorton and Denton byelection was seen as a potential leadership challenge. While Burnham's allies claim Labour needs a change of course, his opponents criticized his ambition. He will now likely remain in his mayoral role, avoiding a potentially difficult byelection against Reform UK, the Greens, and possibly an independent candidate. The Green Party's presence still poses a threat to Labour in the election.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Andrew Gwynne 30% Zack Polanski 30% Nigel Farage 40% Green Party ×240% Brighton 40% Gorton and Denton 50% Boris Johnson 50% Reform UK 50% Greater Manchester 60% Keir Starmer ×580% Labour Party ×480% Andy Burnham ×790%

Keywords

andy burnham 100% keir starmer 80% labour party 70% political ambition 60% byelection 50% leadership challenge 50% greater manchester 50% political strategy 40%