LABOUR rebels dubbed the “Manchester Mafia” are secretly plotting to get Andy Burnham a seat in Parliament so he can challenge Sir Keir Starmer for the keys to No10.
Dan CharityBackers of Andy Burnham are plotting his return to Westminster in what has been dubbed the “Etihad coup” after the Man City stadium[/caption]
The Sun on Sunday has learned of an astonishing attempt to try to topple the PM just a year after his landslide victory in what is being dubbed the “Etihad Coup”.
The plotters want suspended Labour MP Andrew Gwynne to step down from his Greater Manchester seat so Mr Burnham can take over and return to Westminster.
The so-called King of the North could then challenge Sir Keir for the Labour crown – and the premiership of the UK.
It is being backed by members of the “Manchester Mafia” – a group of Labour MPs left fuming after being sacked or demoted in the reshuffle.
GettyKeir Starmer is facing plots against his leadership after a series of scandals has rocked his Government[/caption]
ReutersAngela Rayner’s resignation as Deputy PM sparked a reshuffle which saw a big purge of fellow Manchester Labour MPs[/caption]
A Labour source told The Sun on Sunday: “Keir Starmer sacked too many Manchester City fans. They are calling it the Etihad coup.
“The talk is Andrew Gwynne is ready to go. He could step down in the New Year.
“And if Labour HQ tried to give the seat to someone else – well Andy would win that battle.”
Mr Gwynne’s seat of Gorton and Denton in Greater Manchester has a majority of over 13,000.
But he was suspended from Labour in February this year and is understood to be off sick after sexist messages he sent on a Whatsapp chat were revealed.
Meanwhile, fellow Labour Manchester MP Lucy Powell is now the bookies favourite to win the race for Labour deputy leader.
Her victory would be a direct challenge to the PM’s authority, as he just sacked her as Commons Leader in the reshuffle.
The bombshell coup revelation comes at the end of a nightmare week for the PM, who lost Angela Rayner and Peter Mandelson to a double whammy of scandal.
It has sparked fresh questions about the PM’s grip on power – with Clive Lewis becoming the first Labour MP to publicly say Sir Keir is “not up to the job”.
The mood among Labour MPs is mutinous – with even senior members of Sir Keir’s own government suggesting he could be gone within a year.
One powerful frontbencher said: “Things have got to change between now and the local elections next May.
“If not, Labour MPs could throw Keir overboard.”
Backbencher Olivia Blake became the latest Labour MP to slam No10 – warning: “I think there’s a sense that the leadership don’t like to be challenged.”
Slamming the recent reshuffle, she added: “It does feel like they’ve gone into the bunker, but they’ve actually thrown half the people out of the bunker.”
Ms Powell denied her bid to become deputy was a challenge to Sir Keir.
Her spokesman said: “Some want this race to be a proxy war for something else. Lucy doesn’t.
“She wants a clean contest about the job of being deputy leader.”
Mr Gwynne denied he is poised to step down for Mr Burnham.
A source close to Mr Burnham denied he is plotting a coup.
Manchester Labour MPs left fuming after they were sacked and demoted in the reshufle
Who are the Manchester Labour figures sacked or demoted in the reshuffle?
Lucy Powell – MP for Manchester Central. Sacked as Commons leader. Running to be Labour Deputy leader. Close to Andy Burnham.
Angela Rayner – MP for Ashton under Lyne. Resigned as Deputy PM triggering reshuffle.
Jim McMahon – MP for Oldham West. Sacked as Devolution Minister.
Mike Kane – MP for Wythenshawe and Sale East. Sacked as Transport Minister
Claire Reynolds – Keir Starmer’s former Political Director was sacked last week. She is the wife of Jonathan Reynolds, a Greater Manchester MP and the PM’s Chief Whip.
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