9 h. ago 50 MPs sign letter against Labour's decision to block Andy Burnham from Westminster by

Andy Burnham is widely seen as a challenger to Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership.

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11 h. ago Starmer facing growing Labour rebellion as dozens of MPs sign letter objecting to Burnham decision

Senior Labour figures have called for unity as a growing number of MPs express concern over the decision to block the Greater Manchester mayor from standing in a by-election

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12 h. ago Labour civil war: 50 Labour MPs sign letter objecting to blocking Andy Burnham from by

Labour MPs warn Keir Starmer decision to block Andy Burnham from standing in Gorton and Denton by-election could be a “real gift” to Reform UK

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18 h. ago Burnham rebellion grows: 50 Labour MPs sign letter to Starmer protesting against decision to block Manchester mayor

One MP called for the PM to 'consider his position' while more than 50 put their names to a letter critical of his actions. There were also calls for an emergency meeting of the party's ruling body.

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23 h. ago Burnham will try again for Westminster return but declines offer of seat in 2027

Greater Manchester mayor’s hopes of imminent return as MP appear remote as relationship with Starmer at low ebbAndy Burnham has not given up hopes of returning to Westminster and will try again, allies say, but would need to be convinced that Keir Starmer would not try to block him again before running.The Greater Manchester mayor’s hopes of an imminent return to parliament appeared remote, however, as No 10 sources suggested that relations between the two men were at a low ebb and played down chances of a rapprochement. Continue reading...

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24 h. ago Andy Burnham's message to Labour MPs as party fires starting gun on major by

The Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham - who was blocked from a Westminster comeback - urged Labour MPs to 'come up to Manchester' ahead of the Gorton and Denton on February 26

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27 h. ago What next for Andy Burnham after Keir Starmer defends blocking Westminster comeback

King of the North Andy Burnham's hopes of a Westminster comeback were dashed by Labour's governing body. Here The Mirror looks at whether the decision could be reversed - and what happens next

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28 h. ago Starmer defends Labour decision to bar Burnham from byelection

Greater Manchester mayor’s participation in 26 February byelection would ‘divert resources’, says prime ministerUK politics live – latest updatesKeir Starmer has defended Labour’s decision to block Andy Burnham from standing for parliament, a move which has triggered a major backlash against the prime minister from sections of his own party.Starmer said on Monday he and his fellow officers on Labour’s ruling executive committee had decided not to let Burnham quit as mayor of Greater Manchester to avoid triggering a costly mayoral election. Continue reading...

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34 h. ago Burnham suggests Labour more likely to lose byelection after blocking him – UK politics live

Minister defends move, saying that a mayoral campaign in Greater Manchester would have ‘a substantial and disproportionate impact’ on party resourcesThere are claims this morning saying Labour MPs opposed to the decision to block Andy Burnham from being a candidate in the Gorton and Denton byelection will try to get the issued referred to a full meeting of Labour’s national executive committee, in the hope that the NEC will reverse it. The decision yesterday was taken by the NEC’s 1o-strong officers’ group, which is dominated by leadership loyalists.The NEC as a whole has about 40 members, and it contains people who would vote against Keir Starmer on this issue. But the leadership still has a clear majority on the NEC. In their story in the Times, Max Kendix, Steven Swinford and Oliver Wright say:In private, allies of Burnham in ­Westminster are looking at ways to overturn the decision, including the ­possibility of trying to convene an emergency meeting of the whole ­40-strong NEC,...

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35 h. ago Burnham barred from byelection to help Labour ‘focus’, says Scotland secretary

Commons seat campaign by Greater Manchester mayor mid-term would drain resources, says Douglas AlexanderLabour’s decision to bar Andy Burnham from standing in a Westminster byelection was about “focus than about factionalism”, so the party would not be distracted ahead of vital elections in May, Douglas Alexander, the Scotland secretary, has said.Defending the decision by the party’s national executive committee (NEC) to block the Greater Manchester mayor from being a candidate for the Gorton and Denton byelection, Alexander said this was not because Keir Starmer was scared of a leadership challenge. Continue reading...

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38 h. ago Labour’s Burnham veto has made a tricky Manchester byelection much harder

Preventing the mayor from returning to Westminster deprives the party of its most potent candidate in Gorton and DentonWhen Labour dignitaries gathered at the Titanic hotel in Liverpool on Friday night, one question loomed above all others: to change captain or not?For many, that question has become even more pressing after Keir Starmer’s allies brutally stopped Andy Burnham’s return to Westminster before it had even begun. Continue reading...

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47 h. ago Andy Burnham speaks out on his 'disappointment' over being blocked from returning to Westminster to avoid a leadership challenge

In a move that widened Labour's civil war, a committee that includes the Prime Minister voted this morning to prevent the Greater Manchester mayor from contesting a Commons seat.

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53 h. ago 'There will be blood': Furious Labour MPs and allies hammer rattled Keir Starmer for blocking Andy Burnham from returning to Westminster to avoid a leadership challenge

Labour's ruling National Executive Committee today voted 8-1 against letting the Greater Manchester mayor and self-styled 'King of the North' stand in an upcoming by-election.

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54 h. ago Wes Streeting 'has support of 200 MPs for leadership bid' against Keir Starmer from his other flank as PM fights off Burnham power grab

As the PM fends off an attempt by Andy Burnham to return to Westminster, seen as a prelude to a challenge for power, it is the Health Secretary who seems to have the most support.

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54 h. ago Andy Burnham: The ‘King of the North’ whose bid to return to Westminster sparked Labour civil war

Keir Starmer is floundering in the polls, and Labour needs rescuing from the growing threat of Reform. Sean O’Grady asks whether the ‘King of the North’ could be its knight in shining armour, even after his Westminster bid was blocked by Starmer

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55 h. ago Rattled Keir Starmer BLOCKS Andy Burnham's Westminster return: Greater Manchester mayor told he cannot fight by

Labour's ruling National Executive Committee today voted 8-1 against letting the Greater Manchester mayor and self-styled 'King of the North' stand in an upcoming by-election.

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55 h. ago Andy Burnham latest: Starmer allies block Manchester mayor’s Westminster comeback bid

Manchester mayor has been blocked from standing in the upcoming Gorton and Denton by-election

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58 h. ago Andy Burnham latest: Decision day for Labour as Starmer allies warned not to block mayor’s Commons bid

Manchester mayor will find out today if Labour will allow him to stand in the upcoming Gorton and Denton by-election, paving the way for a potential leadership challenge

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2 d. ago Andy Burnham's Westminster return bid could set up Keir Starmer challenge

The Greater Manchester mayor will seek to fight by-election but he could still be blocked by supporters of the Prime Minister

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3 d. ago Everything we know about Andy Burnham's desired return to Westminster as Labour MP

Andy Burnham has announced his intention to return to Westminster as a Labour MP

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