3 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

Events

7 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

7 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

Events

9 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

10 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

12 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

12 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

12 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

13 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

14 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

14 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

14 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...

Politics

17 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...

Politics

27 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.

Politics

27 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...

Politics

30 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

32 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

33 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.

Politics

34 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

Events

34 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.

Sport