Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham’s bid to stand as an MP has been blocked by the Labor Party, as ITV News’ Fred Dimbleby reports.
Andy Burnham said he was “concerned” about the impact of the Labor Party’s decision to bar him from standing in the Gorton and Denton by-election.
The decision was taken by a 10-member sub-group of the National Executive Committee chaired by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmud on Sunday morning.
A win in the by-election would have meant a return to Westminster for the mayor of Greater Manchester.
In his latest social media post, Burnham criticized the Labor Party for telling the media the NEC’s decision ahead of him.
He posted: “PS – the fact that the media was informed of the NEC decision already tells me everything I need to know about how the Labor Party is doing these days.
“You would think that over 30 years of service would count for something but sadly not.”
A Labor source told ITV News: “This is patently untrue.”
Earlier Burnham said: “I am disappointed by today’s NEC decision and concerned about its potential impact on the important election ahead of us.” To the Labor candidates and our members in Manchester and Tameside: you will have my full support and I will be there when you need me.
He added: “Tomorrow I will return fully focused on my role as Mayor of GM, protecting everything we have built over many years in our city-region.
“I decided to put myself forward to prevent the divisive politics of reform from damaging it. We are stronger together and stay that way.”
The Labor Party has been contacted for a response.
In a statement, the Labor Party said the NEC had decided to refuse Mr Burnham permission to stand to avoid an “unnecessary election for the post of Mayor of Greater Manchester”.
The party said the mayoral by-election would have a “substantial and disproportionate impact on party campaign resources” ahead of local and critical elections in May.
It added: “Although the party is confident of retaining the mayoral post, the NEC cannot put Labour’s control of Greater Manchester at risk.
“Andy Burnham is doing a great job as Mayor of Greater Manchester.
“We believe it is in the party’s best interest to avoid an unnecessary mayoral election that would use a substantial amount of taxpayers’ money and resources that would be better spent tackling the cost of living crisis.”
Andy Burnham was looking to return to Westminster as an MP. Credit: PA
Despite blocking his candidacy, senior Labor politicians left the door open for Mr Burnham to return to Westminster when his term as mayor ends in 2028.
Local Government Secretary Steve Reid told the BBC: “In time, I’m looking forward to seeing Andy back in Parliament”, but for now it would trigger an “inevitable” by-election and voters “don’t like” mid-term elections.
But blocking Burnham is likely to spark anger from parts of the Labor party after several senior figures called for local members to make the final decision on whether he should stand.
Labor MP Richard Bergen, secretary of the MPs’ Socialist Campaign Group, said: “Keir Starr and his faction have shown that they are prepared to beat Gorton and Denton to reform only to protect narrow factional interests.
“This is poor leadership, and it only deepens the party’s crisis. There must now be an emergency meeting of the NEC to resolve this issue.”
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Burnham said he had applied to Labour’s National Executive Committee (NEC) for permission to select for the contest on Saturday.
In a letter to the NEC, he said he had “carefully thought about what was in the best interests of our party and the borough I represent” after announcing a by-election that “no one wanted or expected”.
He added: “I see this by-election as the vanguard of that battle for the Manchester Way and I feel I owe it to this city that has given me so much to lead from the front despite the risks.”
Burnham’s candidacy was welcomed by Cabinet minister Ed Miliband, who was giving a speech at the Fabian Society’s annual conference in London when the mayor made his announcement.
Miliband said Burnham had done an “excellent job” as mayor and would be a “great asset” to Parliament, adding that he hoped Gorton and Denton’s party would have the “option” to select him as a candidate.
Why Burnham is likely to be blocked by Starmer loyalists
Clearing the way for suspended MP Burnham
The by-elections started on Thursday after the current MP Andrew Gwyn announced his resignation from Parliament citing health reasons.
Even if Mr Gwynne wins the seat in 2024 with 51% of the vote, Mr Burnham could still face a tough fight given Labour’s decline in polling position and the rise of both Reform UK and the Green Party.
Some Labor MPs supported the NEC’s decision, urging the party to avoid infighting and win the by-election.
Phil Brickell, who represents the Greater Manchester constituency of Bolton West, said speculation about Mr Burnham’s candidacy in recent days had seen “the Labor Party quickly turn inwards.
Rugby MP John Slinger said a “quick and clear decision” would allow the party to “move on from last week’s hurtful, introspective and psychodrama” and “pull together” behind a final candidate.
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