Andy Burnham’s bid to return as MP blocked by Labour ruling body

Andy Burnham has been blocked from running in the parliamentary by-elections in Gorton and Denton by the Labor Party’s ruling body.

Burnham, a directly elected mayor, had to seek approval from Labour’s national executive committee (NEC) after applying to stand as a candidate on Saturday.

Some NEC members were worried about an expensive mayoral election to replace Burnham, and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s allies feared he could face a leadership challenge if he returned to Westminster.

The move is likely to infuriate Labor MPs and some ministers, who say local party members should have the option of choosing the mayor of Greater Manchester as a candidate.

It is seen as a major political gamble by the prime minister’s allies and risks increasing tensions within the party, which has consistently fallen behind Reform UK in national opinion polls.

A senior Labor source who backed Burnham’s candidacy said: “They are gambling the Prime Minister’s entire premiership by winning a very tough by-election without their best candidate. It’s insane.”

The decision was taken by Home Affairs Minister Shabana Mahmood and 10 members of the NEC, including on Sunday morning.

He has previously told the BBC that allowing elected mayors to stand as candidates in parliamentary by-elections had “organisational implications” for the party.

Several Labor sources said the NEC could block Burnham’s application on the grounds that a mayoral election would be expensive for the party.

It will also be costly for taxpayers, as the last mayoral election cost around £4.7 million.