British Labour Party politician Andy Burnham was on Sunday blocked from trying to return to the UK Parliament, with critics accusing Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his allies of a politically motivated decision to keep out a potential leadership challenger.
Burnham, currently Mayor of Greater Manchester and a prominent figure on the party’s left, had applied to be Labour’s candidate in the Gorton and Denton by-election after the sitting MP resigned, a move widely seen as a possible route back to Westminster and a platform from which he could mount a future leadership bid.
Labour’s National Executive Committee (NEC) voted 8-1 against allowing Burnham to stand, with party officials citing concerns about the cost and disruption of a mayoral by-election in Greater Manchester if he were to vacate that post. Starmer was among those who voted against his candidacy.
Burnham expressed disappointment with the decision and criticised how it was handled, saying the media learned of the outcome before he did. Although he reiterated a call for party unity, he also warned the move could have negative consequences for Labour’s future electoral prospects.
The ruling has deepened internal tensions within the governing party, particularly as Labour’s popularity has waned since its landslide victory in 2024 and as it faces challenges from the right-wing Reform UK party in upcoming local elections.