From a practical perspective its going to be very strange if the leader of the labour party is not an MP... eg somebody deputising at every PMQ's... I think if they are non westminister based its also going to be very difficult to get media oxygen as for practical reasons almost all political media is based in / around westminister
To have a real chance i think he needs to stand as an MP (and given what hes said about being happier outside of westminister hes eother got no interest in that or a lot of walking back statements to do) ... which I think would also mean he has to step down as Mayor?
i think thats what will go against him in practical terms and of course if he won the leadership election as Mayor there could always be an MP in a very safe labour seat who stepped down to trigger a by election for him to win... but I think that would probably be a pretty bad look as well.
I half expect a challange to come this summer ... Im hoping its from Burgon because its been a horrible year and we could all do with a laugh
Yes, I would agree Andy Burnham would have to get back into Westminster to lead Labour, that is almost a 'given'; however at the moment he is playing the long game, because his astuteness means he knows full well Labour is going no where just at present, especially in its old heartlands in the Red Wall etc.
Andy is probably resigned to playing the long game, so he needs some big wins as Manchester's Mayor first. He tried having a face -to-face with Boris over Covid issues and related spending, but lost out (NW region) to the Liverpool Labour Mayor, money-wise and in lifting restrictions. It now looks like his next big push will be to extend the tram service to parts of the Manchester area currently not best served. If he succeeds then you can expect to see his run up to Labour leadership begin. It will still be a 'slow slow, quick, quick slow' run -up (rather like Bruno takes penalties) and will depend on how badly Starmer really is doing when the dust of Covid dies away.
My view is Labour is currently in the wrong place, (as a unified party) at the wrong time (Pandemic era) with the wrong people, a leader who is maybe clever, but too clever for his own good and who has no charisma. Andy has plenty of time to prepare and there really is no rush!
In the meantime he will bask in the glory of retaining the Manchester Mayor position, from which unless he is total 'feck-up', nothing can harm him only good things shall flow.
