1 hour ago ‘Labour now is just the Tories in red’: Manchester voters’ fury over decision to block Burnham from by

Following a tumultuous weekend for Andy Burnham, The Independent asks voters in Manchester whether they believe their mayor should have been allowed to make a return to Westminster

Politics

3 h. ago Should Andy Burnham be allowed to stand as a Labour MP? Take our poll and have your say

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham was blocked from running in the Gorton and Denton by-election after a decision from Labour's ruling National Executive Committee

Events

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...

Politics

5 h. ago Andy Burnham's rise from 'one of the lads' to 'King of the North' power battle

As Andy Burnham is barred from standing in the Gorton and Denton by-election, the Mirror takes a look at the Manchester mayor's rise to power, from humble origins to 'King of the North'

Events

7 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

8 h. ago Andy Burnham speaks in public for first time after Keir Starmer's by

The Greater Manchester mayor was blocked from running in the Gorton and Denton by-election over the weekend

Events

8 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

9 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

9 h. ago Andy Burnham latest: Starmer says mayor doing ‘great job’ as Labour rebels accuse him of by

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

Events

9 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

9 h. ago Keir Starmer breaks silence on Andy Burnham decision as Labour anger grows

Keir Starmer said Andy Burnham is doing a "great job" as Greater Manchester mayor - but allowing him to run for a Westminster seat would "divert our resources" from Labour campaigns in May's elections

Events

10 h. ago First picture of Andy Burnham as he returns to work as Greater Manchester Mayor

The mayor has returned to work today after he was blocked from standing as an MP in the Gorton and Denton by-election

Events

11 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

11 h. ago Andy Burnham latest: Labour rebels accuse Starmer of ‘stitch

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

Events

13 h. ago Lame duck Starmer has 'only hastened his demise' after he personally helped block Burnham's return

On a dramatic day yesterday, the Prime Minister was accused of running scared after personally leading efforts to stop the Greater Manchester mayor's bid to become an MP.

Events

22 h. ago Andy Burnham latest: Mayor ‘disappointed’ after bid to return as Labour MP in by

Manchester mayor prevented from standing in upcoming Gorton and Denton by-election in move that risks sparking civil war within the party

Events

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.

Politics

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...

Politics

24 h. ago Labour party tensions mount as Andy Burnham is blocked from standing as an MP

Greater Manchester mayor said he had aimed to stop Reform’s ‘divisive politics’ after he was barred from contesting by-election

Events

24 h. ago Labour tensions mount as Andy Burnham is blocked from standing as an MP

Greater Manchester mayor said he had aimed to stop Reform’s ‘divisive politics’ after he was barred from contesting by-election

Events