Labour MP tells LBC now is 'not the time' for Andy Burnham to stand in by-election

Calvin Bailey, MP for Leyton and Wanstead, said Mr Burnham's "place is as the Mayor of Manchester," amid suggestions he could be plotting to challenge Sir Keir Starmer for the position of Prime Minister.

Speaking to LBC's Henry Riley on Saturday evening, Mr Bailey said: "Part my point is that the people of Manchester need him.

"He's a great leader there and we need to make sure that we've got all of our great players on the pitch.

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"And his place is, you know, as the Mayor of Manchester, and we wouldn't want to jeopardise that and put that at risk.

"Now is not the time."

It follows the announcement earlier that Mr Burnham confirmed had applied to Labour's National Executive Committee (NEC) for permission to seek selection for the contest.

He said the decision had been "difficult," but now was "the moment to mount the strongest possible defence of what we stand for."

Mr Burnham has long viewed as a potential rival to the Prime Minister to head the Labour party.

However, the NEC can still block his bid for selection by refusing permission, and supporters of Sir Keir are reported to be mobilising to prevent him from becoming a candidate.

Mr Bailey added: "What we've seen this week is a huge, hugely significant global issues that have to be managed in an incredibly delicate way.

"And for people to think that this is the moment that we start having internal self reflecting discussions have completely misplaced, a completely misplaced understanding of where our nation's priorities should be."

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.