Sir Keir Starmer is fighting for his political life after revelations around Peter Mandelson's vetting prompted calls for his resignation, exacerbating divisions within Labour. His authority is already under threat amid accusations of a 'cover up' over Lord Mandelson's appointment. Allies of Andy Burnham are reportedly hoping to exploit Labour infighting to seize control of the party's National Executive Committee at a reshuffle later this year.
Burnham was blocked by the NEC from running in the Gorton and Denton by-election earlier this year, with critics accusing Starmer of blocking his candidacy to see off a leadership challenge. Around 16 of the 40 places on the NEC are expected to come up for grabs in July. The NEC election will take place after May's local elections, which are expected to serve a major blow to both the Labour Party and Starmer's authority.
The exact outcome of these elections and how severely they will impact Starmer's authority remain uncertain. Whether Burnham will attempt to return to Westminster and challenge for the Labour leadership is unclear, as is whether Labour and Burnham have provided official comment on the reported infighting. The specific details and evidence behind the accusations of a 'cover up' over Mandelson's appointment have not been disclosed.