Andy Burnham blocked from standing as an MP by Labour's ruling body in blow to leadership hopes
The Manchester mayor needed permission to run in the seat of Gorton and Denton.
Andy Burnham has been blocked from standing in a by-election following a decision from Labour's ruling committee.
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The Manchester mayor's application to stand in the Gorton and Denton by-election was blocked by Labour's National Executive Committee (NEC) on Sunday.
He had required permission from the NEC to run as Labour's candidate for the Westminster seat.
But the 10-person panel voted eight to one against him, it is understood.
Mr Burnham confirmed on Saturday he had applied for permission to run amid long-running speculation he could challenge Sir Keir Starmer for the party leadership.
He said the decision had been "difficult," but now was "the moment to mount the strongest possible defence of what we stand for."
However, his bid has been blocked amid concerns his depature would trigger a new mayoral election in Manchester costing hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Read more: Labour MP tells LBC now is 'not the time' for Andy Burnham to stand in by-election
The Labour Party said in a statement: "The NEC has decided not to grant Andy Burnham permission to stand.
"The NEC believes that causing an unnecessary election for the position of Greater Manchester Mayor would have a substantial and disproportionate impact on party campaign resources ahead of the local elections and elections to the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Senedd in May.
"Although the Party would be confident of retaining the mayoralty, the NEC could not put Labour’s control of Greater Manchester at any risk.
"Andy Burnham is doing a great job as Mayor of Greater Manchester. We believe it is in the best interests of the party to avoid an unnecessary Mayoral election, which would use substantial amounts of taxpayers’ money and resources that are better spent tackling the cost of living crisis.
"We look forward to fighting and winning the upcoming by-election in Gorton and Denton and the positive campaign ahead, which will be firmly focused on tackling the cost of living and bringing investment to the local area."
Before the announcement, Sir Keir Starmer's allies vowed to fight his bid to run, with sources claiming he was putting “ambition” before the party.
One ally to Sir Keir said it “would immediately lead to a mayoral by-election that would cost the party several hundred thousand pounds and cost the country several million pounds... it is an election that doesn’t need to take place”, the Telegraph reports.
They added that setting off a new election for the Greater Manchester mayoralty would result in a “nasty and divided” campaign that could see Reform gaining control of the city.
“We would never forgive ourselves. It would be political madness to give up one of the biggest cities to Reform. We should not gamble with people’s lives and communities like that,” the source said.
The move could threaten to spark a Labour civil war after the Manchester mayor recieved backing from a host of Labour colleagues, including deputy leader Lucy Powell.
Former Labour shadow chancellor John McDonnell told LBC Mr Burnham should have been allowed to stand and brought into cabinet were he to win the by-election, adding that blocking him could "sow division".
"If you're a leader with an element of strength, what you do is you bring that person in, keep them close, give them a job that they should demonstrate their loyalty to the party overall."
"If I was Keir Starmer, I'd stop the advisors making this mess [with] all this manoeuvring to block Andy," he told Lewis Goodall on Sunday.
He said it "weakens you more than strengthens you, so just bring it on".
Former Cabinet minister Louise Haigh said Labour should "change course" and allow Andy Burnham to stand in Gorton and Denton or "we'll all come to regret this".
"This is an incredibly disappointing decision. There's no point pretending we don't have a problem connecting with the public at the minute.
"The leadership should not feel threatened by having one of the most popular politicians in the country as part of the national team.
"It's not too late to change course and make the right decision. Otherwise I think we'll all come to regret this," she told the Press Association.
Labour MP Richard Burgon called for an “emergency NEC meeting” as he accused the party leadership of being prepared to lose a by-election to protect “factional interests”.
Mr Burgon, who is secretary of the Socialist Campaign Group of MPs, said: “Keir Starmer and his clique have shown they’re prepared to lose Gorton and Denton to Reform – just to protect narrow factional interests.
“It’s weak leadership – and will only deepen the crisis the party is in. There should now be an emergency NEC meeting to resolve this mess.”
But other Labour MPs backed the decision, however, urging the party to avoid infighting and move on to winning the by-election.
Phil Brickell, who represents the Greater Manchester constituency of Bolton West, said speculation about Mr Burnham’s candidacy in recent days had “seen the Labour Party quickly turn inward… undermining the PM’s efforts at home and abroad”.
Rugby MP John Slinger said the “quick and clear decision” meant the party could “move on from the damaging, introspection and psychodrama of the last week” and “pull together” behind the eventual candidate.
During his announcement on Saturday, Mr Burnham argued there was now "a direct threat to everything Greater Manchester has always been about from a brand of politics which seeks to pit people against each other."
He continued: "I see this by-election as the front line of that fight for the Manchester way and I feel I owe it to a city which has given me so much to lead it from the front, despite the risks involved."
Mr Burnham’s candidacy was also welcomed by Cabinet minister Ed Miliband, who was giving a speech to the Fabian Society’s annual conference in London as the mayor made his announcement.