6 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...

Events

20 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

29 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

30 h. ago Starmer must deliver on Labour’s manifesto pledges to stop party being ripped apart by decision on Burnham

Editorial: The backlash to the prime minister blocking Andy Burnham from trying to return to the Commons will pile pressure on him to perform better domestically

Society

30 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

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

37 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

37 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

38 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

49 h. ago Will the 'Red Queen' become King of the North's Number Two? Angela Rayner poised for dramatic return to Government if Andy Burnham becomes Prime Minister

The so-called Red Queen is expected to regain her post of Deputy Prime Minister as well as a plum Cabinet job as rewards for backing Mr Burnham.

Politics

53 h. 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

Events

55 h. 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

Events

65 h. ago Deadline looms for Andy Burnham to launch bid to return to the Commons as an MP as Angela Rayner is set to back him today

The Greater Manchester mayor has until 5pm today to make a decision over whether he will contest the Gorton and Denton by-election.

Events

65 h. ago Pressure mounts on Andy Burnham to reveal whether he will seek Westminster return amid rumours announcement imminent

News is expected from the Greater Manchester mayor imminently

Events

65 h. ago Angela Rayner ‘to back Andy Burnham standing as MP’ paving way for Westminster return

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham has been seen as a rival to Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour leadership

Events

3 d. ago Angela Rayner set to publicly support Andy Burnham's bid to return to the Commons during Labour regional conference TODAY

The former deputy prime minister is preparing to publicly back the Manchester mayor at Labour's North West regional conference, it was reported on Friday night.

Events

3 d. ago Starmer faces pressure not to block Andy Burnham’s return to parliament

Angela Rayner is expected to urge PM to let Greater Manchester mayor stand in Gorton and Denton byelectionKeir Starmer is facing mounting pressure not to block Andy Burnham from making a comeback to parliament, with Angela Rayner planning to urge No 10 to let him stand in a forthcoming byelection.The prime minister’s allies have been trying to prevent Burnham’s return as a candidate in the Greater Manchester seat of Gorton and Denton, amid fears he could challenge the leadership. Continue reading...

Events

3 d. ago Angela Rayner 'to back Andy Burnham's bid to return to Westminster'

Labour party commentators have warned the Manchester mayor’s return could lead to a damaging and unnecessary internal row

Events

3 d. ago Voices: ‘Andy Burnham could save Labour’: Readers back Manchester mayor’s potential Westminster return

Our community has criticised Labour’s attempts to block Andy Burnham’s potential Westminster return, insisting: ‘If Burnham wants to stand, he should stand’

Events

3 d. ago It’s Andy Burnham, the man who could be king. Will he, won’t he – are we really still watching this movie? | Marina Hyde

Many yearn and yearn for the Greater Manchester mayor to claim his Westminster crown. They should be careful what they wish for – as should heSince Andy Burnham’s will-he-won’t-he return to Westminster is back in the news, permit me to advance a theory. Andy Burnham is Johnny Depp. Stay with me! We somehow have to make this more fun than immersing ourselves in the remorselessly petty mathematical dynamics of Labour’s national executive committee (NEC).So here goes: movie-wise, before Pirates of the Caribbean, Johnny Depp used to embody a desirable scarcity model. As a cultural asset he was high-prestige, low-supply, and every rudderless director thought that if only the mysterious Johnny was at the helm of their project, then everything would be rosy. He was different, he was cool, he was hyper-selective, he withheld himself, he didn’t dress like the others, he wasn’t your multiplex guy. And he was, crucially, not available. But Pirates of the Caribbean changed all that and it chang...

Events