Angela Rayner has issued an urgent plea to Sir Keir Starmer to bring Andy Burnham back to Westminster. The MP for Ashton-under-Lyne made it clear that Burnham "should never have been blocked" and that the Prime Minister should "put right" his decision to block him.
Background on the Block
The Labour Party's National Executive Committee (NEC) blocked Burnham from standing in the Gorton and Denton by-election back in February. Ultimately, that by-election was a victory for The Green Party, with MP Hannah Spencer taking the seat from the Labour Party.
Rayner's Speech at the Communications Workers Union
Speaking at the Communications Workers Union, Ms Rayner said: "I'm proud of our Labour values but they're not enough if we do not have a plan to put them into practice. It's no good acknowledging the mistakes if they're not put right. So let me be honest, conference. We as a party have to do better than this. And we can only prove we mean our Labour values by putting the common interest ahead of factionalism. And we can start by accepting that Andy Burnham should never have been blocked. It was a mistake that the leadership of our party should put right."
Role of Trade Unions
Ms Rayner also emphasised that trade unions must be at the centre of "the fightback for the soul of this country." She explained: "It is only Labour that can protect you at work, rebuild our estates, make sure that we have the council homes that we need, end no-fault evictions, bring down waiting lists and feed our kids."
Reference to John Prescott
Referring to the late John Prescott, Ms Rayner added: "He had the courage to set out his stall and persuaded people to follow it. He'd be fighting back for what he believed in, a bold vision for a better country, and we have to do exactly that. In each generation, it's fallen on a Labour Government to strengthen the hand of working-class people and the task of this generation is to do that again. The fightback for the soul of this country. And we can only do that with our union family, our Labour family, fighting for the same cause. So, conference, let's do it together."
