Keir Starmer shuts down rival Andy Burnham’s Westminster comeback – POLITICO

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has been barred from standing in an upcoming parliamentary by-election — stopping the potential rival to Keir Starmer from returning to Westminster where he could challenge the prime minister.

The Labour Party’s ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) on Sunday voted 8-1 against allowing Burnham to step down as mayor of Manchester to run in the Gorton and Denton by-election.

Burnham, who has been flirting with running again for parliament, is widely seen as a potential challenger to Starmer should he return to Westminster. The move to block Burnham risks a furious backlash from MPs who are disillusioned by Starmer’s leadership and argue the decision will make Labour more vulnerable to a challenge by Nigel Farage’s Reform UK at the by-election.