Burnham by-election bid blocked by Labour

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

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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 on Sunday 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”.