4 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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6 h. ago Keir Starmer to head on 'kowtowing' trip to China TOMORROW as Labour civil war rages

Keir Starmer will travel to Beijing with Rachel Reeves and a business delegation as he bids to boost trade.

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7 h. ago POLL OF THE DAY: Is Keir Starmer running scared by blocking Andy Burnham's bid to become an MP?

Prime Minister Keir Starmer is being warned that the by-election block on Andy Burnham has made it more likely he will face a leadership challenge.

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8 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

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10 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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10 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

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23 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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24 h. ago ‘Huge mistake’: Labour in turmoil as Burnham blocked from byelection race

Allies of Greater Manchester mayor say No 10 has ‘chosen factionalism’ as decision leads to a furious backlashThe Labour party faced the prospect of civil war on Sunday night after Keir Starmer and his allies blocked Andy Burnham’s return to parliament to stave off a potential leadership challenge.There was widespread anger among Labour MPs and union backers after the 10-strong “officers’ group” of the party’s ruling body, including the prime minister himself, voted overwhelmingly to reject Burnham’s request to seek selection for the upcoming Gorton and Denton byelection. Continue reading...

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28 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

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29 h. ago Who voted to block Andy Burnham standing in Gorton and Denton by

The application is said to have been blocked by a "very clear majority"

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30 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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31 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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31 h. ago Labour civil war erupts as Starmer allies block Andy Burnham comeback

The party’s ruling National Executive Committee blocked a bid by Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham to stand in the Gorton and Denton by-election

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33 h. ago Labour on brink of civil war as party chiefs mull blocking Andy Burnham Commons comeback

The Home Secretary is chairing a meeting to decide if Mr Burnham can apply for selection as Labour’s candidate in the Gorton and Denton by-election.

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43 h. ago How Labour's civil war meltdown unfolded: Andy Burnham finally makes his move after months of unsubtle manoeuvering as supporters say it's 'game on' for the Labour leadership

When the time came to make his move, Andy Burnham hesitated: did he have enough support among Labour MPs to justify the gamble of facing down the PM and beating Nigel Farage?

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45 h. ago Starmer is cornered: As Andy Burnham throws his hat into the ring for a plum Labour seat, the beleaguered Prime Minister faces a stark choice

Labour plunged deeper towards civil war tonight as Andy Burnham announced his bid to become an MP - his first step in challenging Keir Starmer's fragile leadership.

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45 h. ago Starmer is cornered: As Andy Burnham throws his hat into the ring for a plum Labour seat, the beleaguered Prime Minister faces a stark choice: block him or face a leadership challenge

Labour plunged deeper towards civil war tonight as Andy Burnham announced his bid to become an MP - his first step in challenging Keir Starmer's fragile leadership.

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46 h. ago Starmer allies urge him to block Andy Burnham from running in byelection

Greater Manchester mayor has applied to stand for Labour in Gorton and Denton, setting up potential fight for PM’s political futureKeir Starmer’s allies are urging him to block Andy Burnham from running in the Gorton and Denton byelection, after the Greater Manchester mayor declared his intention to stand, setting up a potential fight for the prime minister’s political future.Burnham said on Saturday he wanted to contest the seat after the sitting MP, Andrew Gwynne, said he intended to stand down. Continue reading...

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48 h. ago Andy Burnham latest: Labour committee urged not to block Manchester mayor’s Westminster comeback bid

Manchester mayor seeks permission to stand in upcoming Gorton and Denton by-election, paving the way for a potential leadership challenge

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50 h. ago Andy Burnham confirms he IS standing for Parliament : Keir Starmer faces civil war in the Labour party as he considers whether to block mayor's bid to rejoin Commons

The Greater Manchester mayor will contest the Gorton and Denton by-election, possibly as early as next month.

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