A fierce dispute has broken out within Britain’s ruling Labour Party after its National Executive Committee (NEC) decided to block Andy Burnham, the widely popular Mayor of Greater Manchester, from standing in a forthcoming special parliamentary election in the Gorton and Denton constituency. Critics within the party say the move reflects deeper tensions over leadership and strategy under Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Burnham, who has headed the Greater Manchester region since 2017 and previously served as a Labour MP, asked on Saturday to be selected as Labour’s candidate in the by-election triggered by a resignation. Observers saw his bid not only as an effort to re-enter Parliament but also as positioning ahead of a potential leadership challenge if Labour fares poorly in a series of elections this May.
In a vote by Labour’s NEC, a 10-member party body, Burnham’s request was rejected — with concerns cited about the need to avoid a costly and disruptive mayoral by-election in Greater Manchester if he left his current post before his term ends in 2028.
Burnham reacted with disappointment on social media, saying he had hoped to prevent “divisive politics” by standing and warning that the decision could have adverse effects on Labour’s performance in important upcoming elections. He also lamented the way the ruling was communicated.
The controversy has highlighted internal divisions within Labour, with some figures backing the NEC’s choice as a way to maintain stability and focus, while others, particularly on the party’s left, condemned the block as undemocratic and short-sighted. The row underscores ongoing unease in the party as it grapples with declining poll numbers and challenges from rivals such as Reform UK and the Green Party.