- Thu Jan 22, 2026 2:59 pm
#104351
For example:
Steve Wright, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, has said it would be a “democratic outrage” if Labour were to block Andy Burnham from standing as a byelection candidate in Andrew Gwynne’s seat.
Amid claims Keir Starmer’s allies on the national executive committee do want to stop Burnham being a candidate, Wright said:
" It would be a democratic outrage if Andy Burnham was blocked from seeking selection as Labour’s byelection candidate in this seat.
In the event that a byelection takes place, as an affiliated union, the FBU will not stand by and allow senior Labour politicians like Andy to be carved out of this process.
Our union will fiercely resist any attempts to stitch up the selection.
It’s vital that there is a full and open democratic procedure to choose Labour’s candidate to fight this byelection.
Anything less would be unacceptable."

- By Bones McCoy