73 m. 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.

Events

4 h. ago Manchester mayor Andy Burnham makes Leeds quip after Keir Starmer blocks Labour by

Andy Burnham's Everton took on Leeds United on Monday night after a disappointing weekend for the Mayor of Greater Manchester

Events

5 h. ago Andy Burnham makes telling Leeds joke after Keir Starmer blocks Labour by

Andy Burnham's Everton host Leeds United in the Premier League after a disappointing weekend for the Mayor of Greater Manchester

Events

10 h. ago Tories withdraw ‘mental health’ briefing about Suella Braverman after former Tory home secretary joins Reform – UK politics live

Her defection means there are now eight Reform MPs in the CommonsKeir Starmer was being interview by Beth Rigby from Sky News this morning when he defended the decision not to let Andy Burnham be a byelection candidate.After Starmer delivered his first answer (see 10.15am), Rigby asked him to what he would say to Labour MPs who think he is being “cowardly” and just blocking Burnham to avoid the risk of a leadership contest.Millions of people will be better off if we have the continuation of a Labour government in Wales, and if we’re able to win the government in Scotland and retain and win councils across England.When I came into politics in 2015, the first thing I did was support Andy Burnham’s leadership campaign. The first team I worked in was for Andy Burnham. And in the job he’s doing now, he and I work closely together ..So there’s no question of me and Andy not working very well together. He’s doing an excellent job.The battle of our times is the battle between patriotic, Lab...

Society

11 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...

Politics

12 h. ago Labour says Farage ‘stuffing his party full of failed Tories’ after Suella Braverman joins Reform – UK politics live

Her defection comes shortly after Robert Jenrick joined Nigel Farage’s party, meaning there are now eight Reform MPs in the CommonsKeir Starmer was being interview by Beth Rigby from Sky News this morning when he defended the decision not to let Andy Burnham be a byelection candidate.After Starmer delivered his first answer (see 10.15am), Rigby asked him to what he would say to Labour MPs who think he is being “cowardly” and just blocking Burnham to avoid the risk of a leadership contest.Millions of people will be better off if we have the continuation of a Labour government in Wales, and if we’re able to win the government in Scotland and retain and win councils across England.When I came into politics in 2015, the first thing I did was support Andy Burnham’s leadership campaign. The first team I worked in was for Andy Burnham. And in the job he’s doing now, he and I work closely together ..So there’s no question of me and Andy not working very well together. He’s doing an excellen...

Politics

13 h. ago ‘I feel like I’ve come home’: former Tory home secretary Suella Braverman defects to Reform UK – UK politics live

Her defection comes shortly after Robert Jenrick joined Nigel Farage’s party, meaning there are now eight Reform MPs in the Commons.Keir Starmer was being interview by Beth Rigby from Sky News this morning when he defended the decision not to let Andy Burnham be a byelection candidate.After Starmer delivered his first answer (see 10.15am), Rigby asked him to what he would say to Labour MPs who think he is being “cowardly” and just blocking Burnham to avoid the risk of a leadership contest.Millions of people will be better off if we have the continuation of a Labour government in Wales, and if we’re able to win the government in Scotland and retain and win councils across England.When I came into politics in 2015, the first thing I did was support Andy Burnham’s leadership campaign. The first team I worked in was for Andy Burnham. And in the job he’s doing now, he and I work closely together ..So there’s no question of me and Andy not working very well together. He’s doing an excelle...

Society

14 h. ago Andy Burnham latest: Starmer defends blocking mayor’s bid to become MP as Labour rebellion ramps up

Manchester mayor also voices criticism about ‘way party is being run’ and hits back at those supporting blocking of path back to Westminster

Events

14 h. ago Starmer defends Labour move to block Burnham from running in by

The Prime Minister insisted the ‘battle of our times’ was between Labour and Reform rather than within his own party.

Events

15 h. ago Starmer brushes off claims blocking Burnham from byelection was ‘cowardly’ – UK politics live

PM praises Manchester mayor and urges Labour to unite to fight Reform Keir Starmer was being interview by Beth Rigby from Sky News this morning when he defended the decision not to let Andy Burnham be a byelection candidate.After Starmer delivered his first answer (see 10.15am), Rigby asked him to what he would say to Labour MPs who think he is being “cowardly” and just blocking Burnham to avoid the risk of a leadership contest.Millions of people will be better off if we have the continuation of a Labour government in Wales, and if we’re able to win the government in Scotland and retain and win councils across England.When I came into politics in 2015, the first thing I did was support Andy Burnham’s leadership campaign. The first team I worked in was for Andy Burnham. And in the job he’s doing now, he and I work closely together ..So there’s no question of me and Andy not working very well together. He’s doing an excellent job.The battle of our times is the battle between patriotic...

Politics

15 h. ago Keir Starmer defends blocking Andy Burnham Commons comeback but Labour MP calls for him to quit

The Prime Minister was facing a Labour revolt after party chiefs stopped Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham from being able to stand in the Gorton and Denton by-election

Events

16 h. ago Starmer dismisses fury at blocking rival Andy Burnham from MP bid saying it would cost Labour too much money

Andy Burnham voiced frustration after the PM led a dramatic move by the ruling national executive committee to prevent him standing.

Economics

16 h. ago Starmer defends blocking Burnham from standing in byelection – UK politics live

PM says holding a mayoral election in Manchester would divert resources from local council, Scottish and Welsh campaigns for LabourKeir Starmer has defended the decision not to allow Andy Burnham to stand to be Labour’s candidate in the Gorton and Denton byelection. Starmer was on the 10-strong panel that took the near-unanimous decision to block Burnham yesterday, and, speaking to broadcasters today, he set out the same argument used by Douglas Alexander earlier. (See 8.51am.) Starmer said:We have really important elections already across England for local councils, very important elections in Wales for the government there and very important elections in Scotland for the Scottish government that will affect millions of people. And we’re out campaigning on the cost of living and they’re very important elections.We need all of our focus on those elections.There’s also a political point here. What does our constitution say as a democratic socialist party? “By the strength of our comm...

Politics

17 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,...

Politics

17 h. ago Endgame for Starmer: Andy Burnham warns Labour will LOSE Manchester by

Andy Burnham voiced frustration after the PM led a dramatic move by the ruling national executive committee to prevent him standing.

Events

17 h. ago ‘Psychodrama’ threat to Labour led party chiefs to block Andy Burnham Commons comeback, says minister

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer hit by furious backlash from MPs, particularly on the Left of the Labour Party

Events

33 h. ago Labour at war after Starmer blocks Andy Burnham’s Commons comeback bid

Labour MPs warn the prime minister the decision will trigger ‘bloodletting’ – but supporters backed the move, saying it would help the party draw a line under recent ‘psychodrama’

Events

35 h. ago Blocking Burnham will ‘hasten your demise,’ Starmer warned by senior London MP as Labour civil war explodes 

Former shadow chancellor John McDonnell says decision will cause ‘immense damage’ in scathing attack on Starmer

Events

35 h. ago Andy Burnham latest: Labour at war as Starmer warned blocking mayor’s by

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

Events

36 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.

Events