Much as I want someone to replace Starmer, this decision is not a big surprise, really. Aside from Starmer’s desire for self-preservation, Burnham becoming an MP would have forced a mayoral by-election in Manchester which Labour might well have lost (on current polling, Reform had a slight edge). Burnham had a chance to run as an MP in 2024 without causing that problem and decided not to, so it’s hard to feel too sorry for him.
This exactly. As someone who wants Starmer out ASAP, I was half-minded to support Burnham just to achieve that goal, but it’s not like he was covering himself in glory, here. He had an opportunity to run as an MP just 18 months ago and decided not to take it. What’s changed since then - other than he now has a shot at PM?