"Politics, as Lyndon B Johnson understood better than most, is not about eliminating conflict but managing it. It's better to have them inside the tent pissing out than outside the tent pissing in, the former US president observed. His enduring point was that strong leaders use their parties to contain power; weak ones try to banish it. Sir Keir Starmer seems ready to make this mistake over Andy Burnham."
"Sir Keir is not asserting authority through confrontation. He is surrendering control and accepting responsibility for the consequences. Labour's national executive committee, which is dominated by Sir Keir's supporters, must give permission for a directly elected mayor to seek selection to be an MP. That discretion is now being presented as an obstacle course, with cost, a potential mayoral byelection and gender balance rules being thrown in Mr Burnham's way."
Politics is about managing conflict rather than eliminating it, and strong leaders keep rivals within party structures while weak leaders banish them. Sir Keir Starmer appears poised to block Manchester mayor Andy Burnham from contesting a parliamentary by-election, with No 10 and Labour allies planning obstacles through the party's national executive committee. The blockade includes costs, a potential mayoral by-election and gender-balance rules. Blocking Burnham signals a pre-made decision justified later, and prioritizing discipline over debate risks alienating voters. Labour faces economic stagnation, rising far-right support and a crisis of political confidence; sidelining an effective governor weakens progressive credibility.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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