Labour rebels accuse Starmer of stitch-up

Labour rebels accuse Starmer of stitch-up over Andy Burnham: Latest

Labour rebels have accused Sir Keir Starmer and his allies of a “stitch-up” after Andy Burnham was blocked from running as an MP in the upcoming Gorton and Denoton by-election.

A letter circulated among backbenchers called for the National Executive Committee to “reevaluate” their decision, and said that losing the seat in a contest with Reform UK would be “unimaginable”.

A revealing aspect of the Starmer/Burnham debacle is the underlying rationale which claims that Burnham is a better actor than Starmer. He's more likeable too claims the covert narrative, better at delivering the lines, less wooden, more able to inject conviction into the usual flaccid nonsense and evasion he'd have to emit.

Not so much a more capable Prime Minister than Starmer, providing more competent political oversight of the government machine. This is tacitly assumed to be sort of, perhaps, kind of important to some picky punters, but far more a more important is that Burnham is seen as a more capable actor.

That's it.