Burnham is right Starmer's veto makes Manchester by-election much harder for Labour

"It is possible for both Andy Burnham and Sir Keir Starmer to be right about the mathematics of the Greater Manchester mayor standing in the Gorton and Denton by-election. Mr Burnham is completely correct that he of all the possible Labour candidates in what could be a crucial by-election stands the best chance of winning. The polling suggests that, without him, Nigel Farage's Reform UK wins by six points. With him as the candidate, Labour win by four, it says."

"The last thing Labour needs is another Reform MP in the northwest to join Runcorn's Sarah Pochin, the last beneficiary of a by-election forced by a disgraced Labour MP from the northwest of England standing down. But, on the other hand, Sir Keir is also correct. If Mr Burnham were to stand in the by-election and win, then he would be forced to step down as mayor of Greater Manchester. This would precipitate an election for the mayoralty as well."

The Independent emphasizes on-the-ground reporting across reproductive rights, climate change and Big Tech and solicits donations to fund field journalism while keeping content paywall-free. Donations enable sending journalists to speak to both sides and sustain trust across the political spectrum. Polling shows Andy Burnham would strengthen Labour's position in the Gorton and Denton by-election: without him, Reform UK leads by six points; with him, Labour leads by four. If Burnham stood and won, he would need to resign as Greater Manchester mayor, prompting a contested mayoral election that Labour must assess its chances of winning.

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