Leadership rules should not be tweaked' to let Burnham run for PM, Labour NEC member says

"The rules governing Labour party leadership contests should not be tweaked to allow Andy Burnham to run, a member of the party's National Executive Committee has said. With the health secretary preparing to launch a leadership challenge against Keir Starmer on Thursday, if he can secure the support of enough MPs to trigger a contest, allies of Burnham have warned against a coronation for Wes Streeting as the next prime minister."

"Burnham's backers are understood to be lobbying Labour's NEC to hold an extended leadership election to give him time to return to parliament, calling for a nomination period long enough for him to win a byelection. Such a move could stretch the contest to about three months, drawing out the chaos facing the party. But calls for the ruling body to allow the Greater Manchester mayor to stand for the leadership suffered a blow on Thursday as Luke Akehurst said he didn't think it was physically possible for Andy Burnham to participate if the starting pistol was fired imminently."

"Speaking to Sky News's Sophy Ridge, Akehurst said it was necessary for prime ministers to be MPs or a member of the House of Lords, which last happened in 1963. If a contest started right now, I just don't see how it's physically possible for Andy Burnham to participate, he said. [If we change the rules] we could have a cast of thousands. How about a byelection for David Miliband or a byelection for Ed Balls? I don't think the Labour party's rules and procedures are there to be tweaked, to suit one particular person."

"The NEC blocked Burnham's return to parliament to stave off a potential leadership challenge in January. There was widespread anger among Labour MPs and union backers after the 10-strong officers' group of the party's ruling body, including the prime minister, voted overwhelmingly to reject Burnham's request to seek selection for theGorton and Denton byelection."

A Labour leadership contest is expected to be launched by Andy Burnham against Keir Starmer if enough MPs support it. Burnham’s allies are urging the Labour NEC to extend the leadership election timeline so he can return to parliament, potentially requiring a nomination period long enough for him to win a byelection. Supporters warn that such an extended process could prolong party disruption. Luke Akehurst, a Starmer supporter, says it is not physically possible for Burnham to participate if a contest begins immediately, arguing that prime ministers must be MPs or members of the House of Lords, last achieved in 1963. The NEC previously blocked Burnham’s return to parliament in January to avoid a leadership challenge.

Read at www.theguardian.com