<\/p>\n
Around 50 Labour MPs have signed a letter objecting to the decision to block Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham from standing in a forthcoming parliamentary by-election, BBC News understands.<\/p>\n
They have written to Sir Keir Starmer to warn the decision is a “real gift” to Reform UK, as polling suggests Burnham may be Labour’s “very best chance at winning” the vacant Gorton and Denton seat.<\/p>\n
The signatories added there was “no legitimate reason” to block Burnham and asked for Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee to “re-evaluate” the decision.<\/p>\n
Defending the move, Sir Keir said allowing Burnham to contest the seat would have diverted Labour’s resources away from other important elections.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
“Resources, whether that’s money or people, need to be focused on the elections that we must have, not elections that we don’t have to have,” he said earlier. <\/p>\n
“And that was the basis of the NEC decision.”<\/p>\n
Burnham has been seen as a potential leadership rival to Sir Keir but would have to return to Parliament in order to mount a challenge. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The letter was addressed to Sir Keir, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood in her role as chair of the NEC, and Labour Party General Secretary Hollie Ridley.<\/p>\n
It said the decision to block Burnham had caused a “huge amount of anxiety and anger” amongst colleagues in the Parliamentary Labour Party and party members across the country.<\/p>\n
Around half a dozen Labour peers also signed the letter, the BBC has been told. <\/p>\n
Members of the NEC voted on Sunday morning to deny Burnham permission to stand in the contest.<\/p>\n
Labour won the seat in 2024 with a 13,000 majority but Reform UK and the Greens are both expected to pose a greater challenge this time round.<\/p>\n
Speaking to BBC Newsnight, former Labour cabinet minister Harriet Harman said her parliamentary colleagues should move on and focus on winning the by-election, instead of discussing the decision to block Burnham.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
#Fifty #Labour #MPs #sign #letter #objecting #Andy #Burnham #decision<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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