10 h. ago 50 MPs sign letter against Labour's decision to block Andy Burnham from Westminster by

Andy Burnham is widely seen as a challenger to Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership.

Events

10 h. ago Andy Burnham decision ‘done and dusted’, insists minister amid Labour anger

MPs have signed a letter saying that denying local members a real choice reinforces the idea that politics is a ‘remote stitch-up’.

Politics

11 h. ago Starmer facing growing Labour rebellion as dozens of MPs sign letter objecting to Burnham decision

Senior Labour figures have called for unity as a growing number of MPs express concern over the decision to block the Greater Manchester mayor from standing in a by-election

Events

12 h. ago Labour civil war: 50 Labour MPs sign letter objecting to blocking Andy Burnham from by

Labour MPs warn Keir Starmer decision to block Andy Burnham from standing in Gorton and Denton by-election could be a “real gift” to Reform UK

Events

18 h. 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

26 h. 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

28 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

29 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

30 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

31 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

32 h. ago Nigel Farage warns Trump 'won't put up with' Chagos giveaway as Starmer faces huge pressure to axe treaty after pulling Lords vote

Nigel Farage insisted Donald Trump had concluded the deal for the UK to hand the territory - including a key US military base - to Mauritius was the wrong decision.

Events

33 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

34 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

34 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

35 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

35 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

36 h. ago Labour denies Andy Burnham claim as backlash mounts over Greater Manchester by

Trade unions have also criticised the NEC's decision to deny Mr Burnham from running in the Gorton and Denton by-election

Events

48 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

48 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

51 h. ago Taking the temperature in Denton with town at centre of political storm in wake of Andy Burnham decision

The Manchester Evening News spoke to residents in Denton

Events