Labour blocks Burnham from bid to be MP

ANDY Burnham has been blocked from standing in the Gorton and Denton by-election.

- CHRISTOPHER McKEON

Sources in the party's National Executive Committee (NEC) told the Press Association there had been a “very clear majority” against allowing Mr Burnham from applying for selection in the seat due to concerns about the cost of fighting a mayoral by-election in Greater Manchester.

The decision was made by a 10-strong subgroup of the NEC, chaired by the Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood yesterday morning.

Confirming the decision in a statement, the Labour Party said the NEC had decided to deny Mr Burnham permission to stand in order to avoid “an unnecessary election for the position of Greater Manchester mayor”.

The party said a mayoral by-election “would have a substantial and disproportionate impact on party campaign resources” before local and devolved elections in May.

It added: “Although the party would be confident of retaining the mayoralty, the NEC could not put Labour's control of Greater Manchester at any risk.

“Andy Burnham is doing a great job as mayor of Greater Manchester. We believe it is in the best interests of the party to avoid an unnecessary mayoral election which would use substantial amounts of taxpayers’ money and resources that are better spent tackling the cost-of-living crisis.”