Andy Burnham has moved to confront Downing Street amid claims that allies of the prime minister briefed against him over his failed attempt to return to Parliament.
The Mayor of Greater Manchester reacted angrily after reports suggested he had been warned his bid to become an MP again would be blocked.
A sub-committee of Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) – which included Sir Keir Starmer – rejected Burnham’s attempt to stand as the party’s candidate in next month’s Gorton and Denton by-election.
The prime minister has said the decision was taken to avoid triggering a by-election to replace Burnham as mayor, a move that would have left Greater Manchester without an elected mayor mid-term.
Claims of Warnings and Burnham’s Forceful Denial
ITV political editor Robert Peston reported on Tuesday that Burnham had been “informed in no uncertain terms” that his application would fail if he put himself forward. Burnham, however, strongly disputed that account.
“It is simply untrue to say that I was told that I would be blocked,” he said.
“I went through the whole weekend having conversations with people in No.10, people in senior positions in the party, to discuss the pros and cons.
“It’s simply untrue to say that there was a message given that I would definitely be blocked because after all the NEC is meant to be an independent body, so how could somebody say that it’s definitely going to be blocked if they are an independent body?
“So it doesn’t stack up what they are saying and it is simply untrue.”
A source close to the mayor added: “Andy Burnham is seeking an urgent call with No.10 about the briefing, which he says is untrue and breaks a commitment given to him by the PM.” Downing Street has been contacted for comment.
Labour Grassroots and MPs Push Back Over Selection Process
The row has also prompted anger among Labour members in Gorton and Denton, who have written to Starmer and home secretary Shabana Mahmood, the chair of the NEC, demanding a say in the choice of by-election candidate.
In their letter, members said: “We didn’t want any of this to happen, but now it has, all we want is a full voice and a say in who our candidate should be.
“Let the best come forward to represent our wonderful constituency and brilliant people. Let the brightest and most convincing campaigner be selected in what will be a nation-defining by-election battle between Labour and Reform.
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“Let Gorton and Denton not be the first domino in Greater Manchester to fall to Reform and instead the platform for the fight back against national populism.”
Around 50 Labour MPs and peers have also written to Starmer, arguing that blocking Burnham’s candidacy is “a gift to Nigel Farage”.
Despite the mounting criticism, housing secretary Steve Reed said the decision was “done and dusted”.
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