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The King of the North's latest power
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play has flopped. After requesting to
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stand as an MP candidate in the upcoming
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bi-election, Manchester Mayor Andy
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Burnham was snubbed by Kier Stalmer.
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This came amid fears that a new
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political leadership battle would
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emerge. An executive committee of Labour
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members, which mostly consists of Kier
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Stalmer's allies, voted to block
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Burnham's bid to return to Westminster
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on Sunday afternoon. This is a nightmare
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scenario for the popular mayor who has
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spoken openly about his ambitions to
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lead the party and become prime
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minister. Bernham's supporters have
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called the vote disgraceful. Many have
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expressed their fury at Starmmer's
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leadership over several months.
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Starmmer, on the other hand, has called
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for the party to focus all of its
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resources on battling the cost of living
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and its fight with Reform UK. While he
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said Burnham has done a quote great job
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as Manchester Mayor, the prime minister
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suggested a new Manchester Mayor
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election would have directed resources
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away from the government's primary
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focus. There is already some speculation
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that Burnham could find another way to
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make his return to Westminster and
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directly challenge Starmmer's
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leadership. But Starmmer may have
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quashed a direct threat to his position
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for now. So, was this a smart tactical
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move or will it come back to bite? will
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let us know in the comments.