'Enough Already': Labour Mayor Condemns 'Gutless' Briefing Against Andy Burnham

A Labour mayor has condemned the “gutless” senior party figures briefing anonymously against Andy Burnham.

Steve Rotheram hit out amid the ongoing Labour civil war over the decision to block the Manchester mayor from standing in the Gorton and Denton by-election on February 26.

Keir Starmer said allowing Burnham to run could have triggered a separate by-election for the Manchester mayoralty, which would cost the party and taxpayers millions of pounds.

Burnham has spoken of his disappointment at being snubbed – and accused Labour of never supporting him in any of his three mayoral elections.

But a cabinet minister told The Times: “He’s been handed everything on a plate for his whole career. He’s now angry because people won’t make way for his second coming. It’s typical Andy.”

In a post on X, Liverpool mayor Rotheram said: “Enough already. I’ve kept my counsel so far because there were assurances from the prime minister that anonymous briefings against Andy Burnham would stop.

“These gutless people hide behind the cloak of anonymity – just like the keyboard warriors they rail against.

“Well, if they want to know what it took to turn devolution from a nice idea into a living, breathing, delivering reality, I’d happily debate them.”

Referring to the Hillsborough disaster, he went on: “If they want to know about the bravery it took to break ranks in cabinet to get an independent panel to investigate the unlawful killing of 97 British citizens – bring it on.

“If they want to know what the use of political power is – then we can compare which campaigns they have assisted with compared to Andy. But of course that would require them to go on the record.

“These anonymous attacks help nobody but our opponents.

“For the sake of our party, please just stop.”

Meanwhile, Labour announced on Saturday that its candidate in the Gorton and Denton by-election would be Manchester councillor Angeliki Stogia.

Congratulating her on X, Burnham said: “I know you will do a great job. I will be there for you whenever you need me.”