Andy Burnham’s road back to parliament would be a bumpy one

The article discusses the significant obstacles Andy Burnham would face if he attempted to return to Parliament to challenge Keir Starmer for Labour leadership. Burnham would first need to resign as Mayor of Greater Manchester, a decision with financial and political implications. He would then need to be selected as a candidate by Labour's National Executive Committee (NEC), where his chances are reportedly slim due to personal animosity and political alignment within the committee. A new Labour rule, dubbed the "Burnham clause," requires directly elected mayors to seek NEC permission before seeking nomination for Parliament, potentially blocking his path. Burnham's past actions have also created strong opposition from senior figures, further complicating his potential return.

Explore how the topics in this article connect to other news stories