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.
Reports suggest that the prime minister’s allies will block any attempt by the Manchester mayor to run in a parliamentary byelection after a Labour MP, Andrew Gwynne, resigned. Mr Burnham may be eyeing a route back to Westminster and the possibility of a future leadership challenge. But No 10 wants to stop him before he gets going. Sir Keir is not asserting authority through confrontation. He is surrendering control and accepting responsibility for the consequences.
