"Labour's national executive committee has blocked Andy Burnham's request to seek selection for the Gorton and Denton byelection, according to Labour sources. The decision is likely to set off a ferocious row with allies of the Greater Manchester mayor. Of the 10-strong officers' group of the NEC, the vote went eight to one against Burnham, a Labour source said. The chair, the home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, abstained."
"Burnham said on Saturday afternoon he wanted to contest the seat after the sitting MP, Andrew Gwynne, said he intended to stand down. While he had won support for the bid from a series of cabinet ministers, allies of Keir Starmer warned against the disruption that could follow if Burnham, widely viewed as seeking to challenge the prime minister, re-entered parliament."
Labour's national executive committee blocked Andy Burnham's request to seek selection for the Gorton and Denton by-election. Of the 10-strong officers' group of the NEC, the vote went eight to one against Burnham, with the chair Shabana Mahmood abstaining. Under Labour rules, metro mayors and police and crime commissioners must seek NEC permission to stand for parliament. Burnham wanted to contest the seat after the sitting MP Andrew Gwynne said he intended to stand down. Burnham had backing from several cabinet ministers, while allies of Keir Starmer warned his return could cause disruption. Senior figures including Ed Miliband and Lucy Powell said blocking him would be wrong and could prompt a backlash.
Read at www.theguardian.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]