Joshua Nevett,Political reporterand
Chris Mason,Political editor
PA Media
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s allies concern Andy Burnham’s management ambitions
Andy Burnham has stated he’s “disappointed” after being blocked from standing as a candidate for the upcoming parliamentary by-election in Gorton and Denton by Labour’s ruling physique.
As a immediately elected mayor, Burnham had to get approval from Labour’s nationwide government committee (NEC), after he utilized to be a candidate on Saturday.
But Labour stated the social gathering had determined to deny him permission to stand to “avoid an unnecessary mayoral election, which would use substantial amounts of taxpayers’ money and resources”.
Burnham, a former minister, is broadly seen as a possible management challenger to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer ought to he return to Westminster.
Writing on X, Burnham expressed concern in regards to the ruling’s “impact on the important elections ahead of us”, and stated he would return with “full focus” to his position as mayor.
“I decided to put myself forward to prevent the divisive politics of Reform from damaging that. We are stronger together and let’s stay that way,” Burnham stated.
However, he criticised how the ruling was made identified on Sunday, saying: “The fact that the media was informed of the NEC decision before I was tells you everything you need to know about the way the Labour Party is being run these days”.
The seat in Greater Manchester is vacant after former Labour minister Andrew Gwynne stood down on Friday as an MP on well being grounds.
The transfer to block Burnham has infuriated Labour MPs and is probably going to anger some ministers who stated native social gathering members ought to have had the choice of selecting the Greater Manchester mayor because the candidate.
It is an enormous political gamble by allies of the prime minister and dangers inflaming tensions throughout the social gathering, which is persistently trailing Reform UK in nationwide opinion polls.
One senior Labour supply who had been supportive of Burnham’s candidacy stated: “They’re gambling the PM’s whole premiership on winning a very hard by-election without their best candidate. It is madness.”
Burnham is but to touch upon the choice. which was made by 10 members of the NEC, together with Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, social gathering chair Ellie Reeves and the prime minister himself on Sunday morning.
NEC sources advised the BBC the vote was 8-1 in favour of blocking Burnham’s candidacy.
The prime minister was amongst those that voted to block him from standing.
Mahmood abstained because the chair, whereas Labour’s deputy chief Lucy Powell voted to enable him to stand.
Labour sources have advised the BBC that within the assembly, a number of considerations have been raised in regards to the prices of an election to substitute Burnham as Greater Manchester mayor and the “prospect of a divisive campaign”.
Burnham was elected as mayor of Greater Manchester in May 2024 for a time period that runs till May 2028.
Sir Keir’s allies say Burnham is doing “a very good job” as mayor, arguing that an election to substitute him “would cost the party hundreds of thousands of pounds” and “cost the country millions of pounds during a cost-of-living crisis”.
The prime minister’s supporters have been fearful Reform UK “would outspend us ten to one” through the by-election marketing campaign.
The argument those that blocked Burnham intend to make publicly is that in a interval of geopolitics dominating the headlines and deep considerations about the price of dwelling at residence, there can be no urge for food within the nation for a “return to political psychodramas of the Tory years”.
There was “overwhelming support” within the assembly “for upholding clear Labour Party rules preventing mayors and PCCs standing in by-elections”, a supply stated.
Earlier, Mahmood advised the BBC permitting elected mayors to run as candidates in parliamentary by-elections had “organisational implications” for the social gathering.
A mayoral election in Greater Manchester is also pricey for the taxpayer, with the final one costing about £4.7m.
In a press release, the Labour Party stated: “The NEC believes that causing an unnecessary election for the position of Greater Manchester mayor would have a substantial and disproportionate impact on party campaign resources ahead of the local elections and elections to the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Senedd in May.
“Although the Party can be assured of retaining the mayoralty, the NEC couldn’t put Labour’s management of Greater Manchester at any threat.”
Housing secretary says it’s not the right time for Burnham’s return to Parliament
Local government secretary Steve Reed said the NEC had decided against Burnham’s candidacy “due to the massive inconvenience to two million voters throughout Greater Manchester of getting a by-election for a brand new mayor”.
“I do know that is disappointing for Andy,” Reed said. “But it is excellent news for the individuals of Greater Manchester as a result of he is been doing such job because the mayor there.”
Reed stated “voters do not like elections that come mid-term” but added that “in the end, I look ahead to seeing Andy again in Parliament”.
Labour MP and former shadow chancellor John McDonnell told the BBC he was “completely livid” about the decision and suggested the prime minister did not “perceive the depth of anger there can be amongst our members about this”.
“I believe it reveals weak point and cowardice,” McDonnell said, describing the move as “factionalism gone wild”.
He said he had messaged Starmer to tell him “if he thinks this strengthens his place, I believe it would used to hasten his demise if he is not cautious”.
He stated it was an “insult to individuals’s intelligence” to claim the decision had been made because of the difficulty and expense of finding a new mayor of Greater Manchester.
Karl Turner, Labour MP for Kingston upon Hull East, said it was regrettable that the NEC had stopped Burnham from becoming a candidate because he believes he would have been a “frontrunner to win the seat”.
He said while he wanted Starmer to remain prime minister, the decision to block Burnham “offers extra likelihood of a problem” if the party lose the by-election.
But other Labour MPs welcomed the decision, with John Slinger, who represents the Rugby constituency, saying the “fast and clear choice” meant the party could “transfer on from the damaging, introspection and psychodrama of the final week”.
Burnham, who was previously MP for Leigh, has been touted as a possible Labour leadership contender but can only mount a challenge if he is an MP.
The former cabinet minister has previously not denied he could challenge Sir Keir.
But in his letter to the NEC on Saturday, Burnham insisted he would be in Parliament “to assist the work of the federal government, not undermine it”.
“I’ve handed this assurance on to the prime minister.”
Labour will now move ahead with picking someone else to be their candidate in Gorton and Denton.
Once the deadline for applications passes on Sunday night, an NEC selection panel will shortlist candidates, who will go through to a vote of local party members next weekend.
Gorton and Denton has traditionally voted Labour and the party won the seat in 2024 with a majority of 13,000.
Since then, the social gathering’s reputation has declined and Labour may face challenges from Reform UK and the Green Party, who got here second and third there on the normal election.
