There is a path to peace for Starmer and Burnham – even as their backers prepare for battle | Tom Baldwin
If Burnham wins the Makerfield byelection, many are predicting an immediate and stormy showdown. But that could be bad for both men O ne of the many problems with our politics now is that only the lo
If Burnham wins the Makerfield byelection, many are predicting an immediate and stormy showdown. But that could be bad for both men O ne of the many
Read Full Story at Guardian Politics →The potential showdown between Keir Starmer and Andy Burnham over the Makerfield byelection isn’t just a local political skirmish—it’s a microcosm of the deeper tensions shaping Labour’s future. Both men represent distinct wings of the party: Starmer as the pragmatic leader steering Labour toward electability, and Burnham as the regional powerbroker embodying a more traditional, devolutionary Labourism. Their rivalry matters because it reflects the unresolved question of whether the party can reconcile its metropolitan ambitions with its industrial heartlands. If Burnham wins Makerfield, as polls suggest, it would be seen as a rebuke to Starmer’s strategy—one that could embolden other regional leaders to challenge the leadership’s direction, particularly on issues like public ownership or austerity-lite economics. This dynamic isn’t new. Burnham’s rise as a prominent figure in the so-called "Red Wall" Labour movement has long positioned him as a counterweight to Starmer’s cautious centrism. But the stakes are higher now, with Labour’s polling lead narrowing and the Conservatives searching for vulnerabilities. A Burnham victory wouldn’t just be a personal triumph; it would signal that Labour’s path to power may require more than just Starmer’s cautious repositioning. It could force a reckoning over whether the party’s electoral coalition can stretch from Manchester to Merthyr Tydfil without fracturing. What happens next depends on whether Burnham uses his platform to push for policy shifts or if he pivots to a more conciliatory role. If he becomes a persistent critic, Starmer may face pressure to either accommodate his demands or risk a damaging internal divide. Conversely, if Burnham tempers his ambitions, he risks being sidelined—something he’s keen to avoid given his ambitions for greater influence. The broader trend here is the growing influence of regional leaders in shaping national policy, a trend accelerated by devolution and the decline of Westminster-centric power structures. Whether Labour can navigate this without fracturing will determine not just its electoral fortunes, but the very nature of British politics in an era of fragmented authority.
