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Andy Burnham has expressed “disappointment” after Labour’s National Executive Committee (NEC) blocked his candidacy for the upcoming parliamentary by-election in Gorton and Denton.
As a directly elected mayor, Burnham required NEC approval after submitting his application to stand as a candidate on Saturday.
However, the Labour Party cited concerns about triggering “an unnecessary mayoral election, which would use substantial amounts of taxpayers’ money and resources” as the reason for denying his request.
Burnham, a former minister, is widely considered a potential challenger to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership should he return to Westminster.
In a post on X, Burnham voiced concern regarding the ruling’s “impact on the important elections ahead of us,” stating his intention to refocus on his mayoral duties.
“I decided to put myself forward to prevent the divisive politics of Reform from damaging that. We are stronger together and let’s stay that way,” Burnham stated.
He also criticised the manner in which the decision was communicated on Sunday: “The fact that the media was informed of the NEC decision before I was tells you everything you need to know about the way the Labour Party is being run these days.”
The Greater Manchester seat became vacant following the resignation of former Labour minister Andrew Gwynne on Friday, citing health reasons.
The decision to block Burnham has reportedly frustrated Labour MPs and may anger some ministers who believe local party members should have had the opportunity to select the Greater Manchester mayor as their candidate.
This move is perceived as a significant political risk by allies of the Prime Minister and could exacerbate tensions within the party, which is currently trailing Reform UK in national polling.
One senior Labour source, who had supported Burnham’s candidacy, described the situation as “madness,” stating, “They’re gambling the PM’s whole premiership on winning a very hard by-election without their best candidate.”
The decision was reportedly made by 10 NEC members, including Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, party chair Ellie Reeves, and the Prime Minister himself, on Sunday morning.
NEC sources informed the BBC that the vote was 8-1 in favour of blocking Burnham’s candidacy.
The Prime Minister was among those who voted against allowing him to stand.
Mahmood abstained as chair, while Labour’s deputy leader Lucy Powell reportedly voted in favour of allowing Burnham to stand.
Labour sources have told the BBC that concerns were raised during the meeting regarding the costs associated with a mayoral election to replace Burnham, as well as the “prospect of a divisive campaign.”
Burnham was elected as Mayor of Greater Manchester in May 2024, with a term extending until May 2028.
Sources close to Sir Keir maintain that Burnham is performing “a very good job” as mayor, arguing that an election to replace him “would cost the party hundreds of thousands of pounds” and “cost the country millions of pounds during a cost-of-living crisis.”
Supporters of the Prime Minister also expressed concerns that Reform UK “would outspend us ten to one” during the by-election campaign.
The rationale expected to be presented publicly by those who blocked Burnham is that, amidst prevailing geopolitical concerns and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, there is limited public appetite for a “return to political psychodramas of the Tory years.”
According to one source, there was “overwhelming support” within the meeting “for upholding clear Labour Party rules preventing mayors and PCCs standing in by-elections.”
Earlier, Mahmood told the BBC that allowing elected mayors to run as candidates in parliamentary by-elections had “organisational implications” for the party.
A mayoral election in Greater Manchester could also prove costly to taxpayers, with the most recent election costing approximately £4.7 million.
In a statement, the Labour Party asserted: “The NEC believes that causing an unnecessary election for the position of Greater Manchester mayor would have a substantial and disproportionate impact on party campaign resources ahead of the local elections and elections to the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Senedd in May.”
“Although the Party would be confident of retaining the mayoralty, the NEC could not put Labour’s control of Greater Manchester at any risk.”
Local Government Secretary Steve Reed stated that the NEC had decided against Burnham’s candidacy “because of the huge inconvenience to two million voters across Greater Manchester of having a by-election for a new mayor.”
“I know that’s disappointing for Andy,” Reed said. “But it’s good news for the people of Greater Manchester because he’s been doing such a good job as the mayor there.”
Reed said “voters don’t like elections that come mid-term” but added that “in due course, I look forward to seeing Andy back in Parliament”.
Labour MP and former shadow chancellor John McDonnell told the BBC he was “absolutely furious” about the decision and suggested the prime minister did not “understand the depth of anger there will be amongst our members about this”.
“I think it shows weakness and cowardice,” McDonnell said, describing the move as “factionalism gone wild”.
He said he had messaged Starmer to tell him “if he thinks this strengthens his position, I think it will used to hasten his demise if he’s not careful”.
He said it was an “insult to people’s intelligence” to claim the decision had been made because of the difficulty and expense of finding a new mayor of Greater Manchester.
Karl Turner, Labour MP for Kingston upon Hull East, said it was regrettable that the NEC had stopped Burnham from becoming a candidate because he believes he would have been a “frontrunner to win the seat”.
He said while he wanted Starmer to remain prime minister, the decision to block Burnham “provides more chance of a challenge” if the party lose the by-election.
But other Labour MPs welcomed the decision, with John Slinger, who represents the Rugby constituency, saying the “quick and clear decision” meant the party could “move on from the damaging, introspection and psychodrama of the last week”.
Burnham, who was previously MP for Leigh, has been touted as a possible Labour leadership contender but can only mount a challenge if he is an MP.
The former cabinet minister has previously not denied he could challenge Sir Keir.
But in his letter to the NEC on Saturday, Burnham insisted he would be in Parliament “to support the work of the government, not undermine it”.
“I have passed this assurance on to the prime minister.”
Labour will now move ahead with picking someone else to be their candidate in Gorton and Denton.
Once the deadline for applications passes on Sunday night, an NEC selection panel will shortlist candidates, who will go through to a vote of local party members next weekend.
Gorton and Denton has traditionally voted Labour and the party won the seat in 2024 with a majority of 13,000.
Since then, the party’s popularity has declined and Labour could face challenges from Reform UK and the Green Party, who came second and third there at the general election.
He says in a statement that he wants to back the Labour government “not undermine it”.
The Greater Manchester mayor has until Saturday afternoon to decide if he wants to stand in the Gorton and Denton seat.
The Greater Manchester mayor has until Saturday afternoon to decide if he wants to enter the contest to be Labour’s candidate.
Labour MPs have strong views on whether Burnham should be Labour’s candidate in the Gorton and Denton by-election.
Some of Sir Keir Starmer’s allies say they will try to stop Burnham from standing in a by-election.
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