Labour Blocks Andy Burnham’s Attempt to Return to Parliament

Andy Burnham has been prevented from contesting the forthcoming parliamentary by-election in Gorton and Denton after Labour’s ruling body refused to approve his candidacy.

Burnham, the directly elected Mayor of Greater Manchester, required clearance from Labour’s National Executive Committee (NEC) to stand. He applied on Saturday, but the NEC decided against granting permission, citing concerns over the cost and disruption of triggering a mayoral election.

In a statement, Labour said the decision was taken to avoid an unnecessary mayoral poll that would consume significant public funds and party resources at a time when attention should be focused on addressing the cost-of-living crisis.

The by-election was triggered after former Labour minister Andrew Gwynne resigned as MP on health grounds. Burnham, a former cabinet minister and ex-MP for Leigh, is widely viewed as a potential future leadership challenger to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer should he return to Westminster.

The decision has angered a number of Labour MPs and party members, some of whom argue that local members should have been allowed to choose Burnham as their candidate. Critics within the party say blocking him is a risky move that could deepen internal divisions, especially as Labour continues to trail Reform UK in national opinion polls.

One senior Labour source described the decision as a “huge gamble,” warning that the party was sidelining its strongest candidate in what could be a difficult by-election.

The NEC decision was taken on Sunday morning by 10 members, including Sir Keir Starmer, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Labour chair Ellie Reeves. NEC sources said the vote was 8–1 in favour of blocking Burnham’s candidacy. Mahmood abstained as chair, while Deputy Labour leader Lucy Powell voted in favour of allowing him to stand.

According to party sources, concerns raised during the meeting included the financial burden of replacing Burnham as mayor and the risk of a divisive internal campaign. Allies of the prime minister argued that Burnham is performing well as mayor and that a replacement election could cost millions of pounds at a time of economic pressure.

They also warned that Reform UK could significantly outspend Labour during the campaign.

Labour said the NEC believed forcing a mayoral election would have a “substantial and disproportionate impact” on party resources ahead of key elections in May, including local council contests and devolved polls in Scotland and Wales.

Former shadow chancellor John McDonnell strongly criticised the decision, calling it “weakness and cowardice” and warning that it would provoke anger among party members. He dismissed claims that cost considerations justified the move, describing them as an “insult to people’s intelligence.”

However, other Labour MPs welcomed the ruling. John Slinger said the swift decision would allow the party to move past what he described as a damaging period of internal drama.

Burnham, who has twice unsuccessfully contested the Labour leadership, has not ruled out a future challenge to Sir Keir but said in a letter to the NEC that his intention in returning to Parliament would be to support the government, not undermine it.

Gorton and Denton has long been a Labour stronghold. The party won the seat in 2024 with a majority of 13,000, though its popularity has since dipped, with Reform UK and the Green Party expected to mount strong challenges.