Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, has been blocked from standing as a Labour MP in a local by-election.
Labour’s national executive committee rejected his request to seek selection for the Gorton and Denton byelection, according to Labour sources.
The decision is likely to intensify a battle in the party over its leadership and direction and raise more questions over the future of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer who is thought to have voted against Mr Burnham.
The Guardian reports that the decision was made on an 8-1 majority with the chair, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, abstaining.
Under Labour rules, metro mayors and police and crime commissioners must seek the NEC’s permission to stand for parliament.
Mr Burnham left it until the deadline of 5pm on Saturday to announce he wanted to contest the seat being vacated by former UK health minister Andrew Gwynne.
Senior Labour figures including former Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner, Ed Miliband, the energy secretary, and Lucy Powell, the party’s deputy leader, saying it would be wrong to block him.
… more follows
#Burnham #blocked #standing #Labour #Daily #Business