UNITY AFTER PARTY ROW

KEIR Starmer and Andy Burnham both appealed for unity within the Labour ranks yesterday amid the pressing need to defeat Reform in next month's by-election.

- BY ASHLEY COWBURN Deputy Political Editor and LIZZY BUCHAN

The Mayor of Greater Manchester, blocked by the party from standing in the seat of Gorton and Denton, nevertheless urged Labour MPs to “come up to Manchester” ahead of the crucial vote.

He said: “We've got a by-election about to happen. We need your help.” And the Prime Minister appealed for accord, saying the party's MPs “all need to line up together” in the fight against Nigel Farage’s right-wing Reform UK.

As he attempted to defend his decision to prevent Mr Burnham's Westminster comeback, after a barrage of criticism within Labour's ranks, Mr Starmer said: “Yes, there is a fight, but that fight is with Reform and we all need to line up together to be in that fight, all playing our part.

“I think that everybody in the Labour Party, everybody whos a Labour MP, wants to be in that fight, wants to fight alongside all their colleagues in a fight that matters hugely to the future of our country.”