BLOCK PARTY

Exec committee halts King of North's MP hopes

- LIZZY BUCHAN

KEIR Starmer eliminated the most immediate threat to his leadership yesterday by blocking King of the North Andy Burnham from running as an MP.

The Greater Manchester Mayor had sought the go-ahead from top brass to quit his post to contest the Gorton and Denton by-election.

But a 10-strong panel of Labour's National Executive Committee voted to block him by eight to one in a meeting that lasted less than an hour.

Only Deputy Leader Lucy Powell voted in favour of letting Burnham run, while the PM voted against.

The decision sparked fears of a Labour civil war and claims the party would be vulnerable to Reform in its Greater Manchester stronghold.

But others accused Burnham of putting his own interests first and risking a costly mayoral contest as Labour faces make-or-break elections in Scotland, Wales and some English councils in May.

Last night, he said: "I am disappointed by today's NEC decision and concerned about its potential impact on the important elections ahead of us.

"To whoever is Labour's candidate and to our members in Manchester and Tameside: you will have my full support and I will be there whenever you need me.

"Tomorrow I return with full focus to my role as Mayor of GM, defending everything we have built in our cityregion over many years.