It’s been another bizarre week in Westminster, with Sir Keir Starmer going about business as if everything is completely normal while a shadow leadership race to replace him ramps up in the background. But the absurdity of left-wing turmoil hit its peak yesterday when Andy Burnham officially launched his campaign to win the Makerfield by-election and take over as PM.
In the car park of a sports and social club in Ashton-in-Makerfield, the Greater Manchester mayor was flanked by a cadre of MPs from Labour’s more left-leaning flank, including the Corbynista Rebecca Long-Bailey, Barry Gardiner and Charlotte Nichols. Liverpool City Region mayor Steve Rotheram was there. And so, too, was Jonathan Reynolds, the chief whip and man in charge of upholding loyalty to the Prime Minister.
That’s right – the guy responsible for ensuring MPs stay in line was waving a placard backing the man who wants to bludgeon the boss he’s been hired to protect as soon as possible.
The spectacle perfectly reflected much of the madness taking place behind the scenes in Labour land. This includes Ed Miliband lending his communications special adviser to the Burnham campaign to assist in toppling the Prime Minister he is supposed to serve. And Labour HQ effectively being bypassed wherever possible to remove Starmer loyalists from planning and decision-making.
