Burnham ‘coronation’ will anger some Labour members, party bosses warned

Andy Burnham, the new MP for Makerfield, is expected to become Labour leader on 17 July, if there are no other candidates in the contest. Photograph: Tolga Akmen/EPA View image in fullscreen Andy Burnham, the new MP for Makerfield, is expected to become Labour leader on 17 July, if there are no other candidates in the contest. Photograph: Tolga Akmen/EPA Burnham ‘coronation’ will anger some Labour members, party bosses warned NEC told it must take steps to address fears – including not hiring Everton stadium to announce new leader before nominations even open Labour chiefs have been warned they must placate disgruntled Labour members who are angry at the lack of party democracy because Andy Burnham is not expected to face a challenge to become Labour leader. MPs have told the party there are growing complaints from members about the lack of involvement from members if Burnham does not face a leadership contest from any other MP. Labour is understood to have considered hiring Everton FC’s ground to announce Burnham – a lifelong Everton fan – as the new Labour leader, but insiders have raised concerns that hiring the venue in advance – before the official deadline for nominations has even opened – could appear too presumptive to members disappointed about a lack of contest. What next for Andy Burnham? Five key questions after Makerfield win Read more Party bosses are planning to organise Q&A events online to replace hustings that would have taken place in a leadership contest. Burnham, the new MP for Makerfield, is expected to become Labour leader at a special conference on 17 July – as long as there are no other candidates who get more than 81 nominations from MPs, which now looks highly unlikely. Nominations will open a week earlier, and Burnham is expected to get the backing of hundreds of MPs and ministers. View image in fullscreen Burnham taking a selfie with colleagues from the parliamentary Labour party in Westminster Hall at the Houses of Parliament. Photograph: Yui Mok/PA Several members of the NEC told the Guardian there had been other moves to try to placate disgruntled members and trade unions who were unhappy about the idea of a coronation for Burnham on democratic grounds. Trade unions will get the opportunity to express endorsements over nominations week from 9 July – or decline to give one. That has required a “tweak” to the Labour rulebook because unions would usually nominate during the course of a contest – but union leaders have said that they must be allowed to give a formal view before Burnham is crowned Labour leader. Burnham, who has spent the past fortnight in talks with groups of MPs and ministers, met affiliated trade union leaders on Thursday afternoon where a number are planning to quiz the PM-in-waiting about plans for oil and gas licences, as well as care worker visas. Members of the NEC who represent constituency parties said there was also unhappiness from rank-and-file members about a lack of input in the process o