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Labour’s fragile unity has shattered. The battle for the soul of the party—and the keys to Number 10—has officially begun, with Angela Rayner emerging as the kingmaker in a high-stakes plot to dethrone Keir Starmer.
In a move that signals open warfare within the Labour ranks, former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has thrown her full political weight behind Andy Burnham’s shock bid to return to Westminster. The "King of the North" officially applied to stand in the Gorton and Denton by-election just minutes before Saturday’s 5pm deadline, triggering panic in Downing Street.
But the real story isn’t just Burnham’s return—it is the formation of a powerful "Northern Rebel Alliance" led by Rayner, aimed squarely at Keir Starmer’s vulnerable premiership.
The Rayner Revenge: A Calculated Power Play
Angela Rayner, who resigned as Deputy Prime Minister in September 2025, has wasted no time in weaponizing her freedom from the frontbench. Sources confirm that Rayner is actively whipping up support for Burnham, positioning herself as the figurehead of the anti-Starmer resistance.
Her strategy is clear: break the "Downing Street blockade." Starmer’s allies control the National Executive Committee (NEC) and have launched a desperate "Stop Andy Burnham" campaign, fearing that his return to Parliament is the first step in a leadership coup. Rayner is set to publicly slam any attempt to block Burnham as a "London stitch-up" at the Labour North West regional conference, a move designed to turn the party membership against the Prime Minister.
Starmer’s Nightmare: The Pincer Movement
For Keir Starmer, the threat is existential. His personal popularity has plummeted, and the party is jittery following the resignation of MP Andrew Gwynne. Starmer now faces a two-front war:
- From the outside: Andy Burnham, the popular Greater Manchester Mayor who has spent years criticizing the "Westminster bubble" and is seen by many as the leader-in-waiting.
- From the inside: Angela Rayner, who commands massive loyalty among unions and the party’s grassroots, and who is now free to operate as a dangerous backbench critic.
Insiders suggest that if Rayner can force the NEC to accept Burnham’s candidacy, she will have effectively handed Burnham a loaded gun to aim at Starmer’s leadership.
The ‘Stitch-Up’ Strategy
Downing Street is frantically trying to kill Burnham’s bid before it starts. Starmer loyalists on the NEC are expected to argue that a by-election for a new Manchester Mayor would be too costly and distracting. However, this technical excuse is widely viewed as a thin veil for political assassination.
By backing Burnham, Rayner is calling Starmer’s bluff. If the Prime Minister blocks the most popular Labour politician in the North, he risks a total mutiny from the "Red Wall" MPs and unions who already feel marginalized by his administration.
What Happens Next? The Path to a Coup
The timeline for a potential leadership challenge is accelerating:
- The Selection Battle: The NEC must decide within days whether to shortlist Burnham. A rejection will ignite a firestorm led by Rayner.
- The By-Election: If selected, Burnham is the heavy favorite to win Gorton and Denton.
- The Challenge: Once back in the Commons, Burnham would need the support of 20% of Labour MPs (roughly 80 members) to trigger a leadership contest. With Rayner whipping the left and the dissatisfied northerners, that number is within reach.
The question is no longer if a challenge is coming, but when. The Rayner-Burnham alliance suggests that the "Post-Starmer" era is already being planned.
DAZZLING DAWN ANALYSIS: The North Remembers
By Our Chief Political Correspondent
This is not just a by-election; it is a hostile takeover bid. Angela Rayner’s decision to back Andy Burnham is the most significant political maneuver of 2026. Since her resignation from the Cabinet last year, Rayner has been a ticking time bomb for Starmer. By aligning with Burnham, she has fused her grassroots popularity with his executive credibility.
Starmer is trapped. Block Burnham, and he looks weak, fearful, and anti-democratic—confirming the "control freak" narrative Rayner is spinning. Allow Burnham to run, and he invites his replacement into the House of Commons.
The dynamic has shifted. Starmer is no longer fighting the Tories; he is fighting for his political life against the two most charismatic figures in his own party. The "King of the North" is marching on London, and Angela Rayner has just opened the gates.
Would you like me to create a breakdown of the specific NEC members who hold the power to block Burnham, or draft a social media thread analyzing Angela Rayner's potential motivations?
