Labour must avoid a psychodrama' over Andy Burnham, warns Mahmood

"Everyone has to make their own decisions. What I would say is, I think everybody could do with less psychodrama, Mahmood said. And my clear message to all of my colleagues, whether they are in cabinet, or elsewhere in the country, is: we get to decide if we indulge in a psychodrama."

"The country was absolutely fed up to the back teeth of the Tories and all of their psychodramas, the constant arguing. So my clear message to all colleagues everywhere is, just calm down. We're in government. Labour governments don't come along that often in the history of our great country. We have the absolute privilege of being the government of our country. We should all pull together and make a success of it."

"He's an exceptional politician, and of course I always think we should have all of our best players making their contribution to the Labour government, she said."

Shabana Mahmood, home secretary and chair of Labour's NEC, urged the party to avoid prolonged internal psychodrama over Andy Burnham's possible return to parliament. The NEC was scheduled to decide whether Burnham could seek selection for the Gorton and Denton by-election, a move that would require him to give up the Greater Manchester mayoralty. Mahmood warned that voters would not tolerate extended government turmoil, citing Conservative instability with five prime ministers in six years. She called for unity within the government, praised Burnham as an exceptional politician who could contribute in parliament, and noted Burnham's intention to contest the seat after Andrew Gwynne announced plans to stand down.

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