Fifty Labour MPs sign letter objecting to Burnham decision

According to BBC News, around 50 Labour MPs have signed a letter protesting the decision to prevent Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham from running in a forthcoming parliamentary by-election. They have written to Sir Keir Starmer to inform that the decision is a true gift to Reform Britain, as polls indicate Burnham has a good chance of winning the vacant Gorton and Denton seats. The signatories said there was no legitimate reason to prohibit Burnham and called on Labour's ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) to "re-evaluate. Sir Keir has stated that allowing Burnham to contest the seat would have diverted Labour's funds away from other critical elections.

Resources, whether it's money or people, must be focusing on the elections we must have, not elections that we don't have,

he said on Monday. Although the names of those who have signed the letter are not expected to be revealed, the party's leaders are not likely to be announced. If Burham is re-elected in the by-election, the NEC, which includes Sir Keir, has said that if he were successful in the run-off, he would

avoid an The last mayoral election in Greater Manchester cost taxpayers around £4. 7m. Labour opponents of the drive to ban Burnham were

entitled to their view,

Housing Secretary Steve Reed said on Tuesday, but NEC officers voted

overwhelmingly" in favour of the measure.

Burnham has been portrayed as a potential leadership challenge to Sir Keir, but a challenge would have to return to Parliament in order to mount a lawsuit. The letter was sent to Sir Keir, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood in her role as Chair of the NEC and Labour Party General Secretary Hollie Ridley. The decision to refuse Burnham had caused a great deal of anxiety and indignation amongst members of the Parliamentary Labour Party and other members around the country, according to the government. According to the BBC, around half a dozen Labour peers also signed the letter. Members of the NEC voted on Sunday morning not to allow Burnham permission to participate in the competition. According to NEC reports, eight members of the BBC eight members had voted to prevent Burnham from running. Lucy Powell, Labour's deputy leader, voted in the by-election, but Mahmood did not. When asked for a response to the NEC's ruling, Burnham declined to comment.

I've said what I wanted to say, and here I am back in my job.

I'm totally focused on my job as mayor of Greater Manchester,

he told the BBC. Burham stuck to his line when asked if he thinks Sir Keir was afraid of him.

I'm not making any further comment,he said. He had earlier stated that he wasdisappointed" by the attempt to block him and took a shot at the Labour Party for how it was announced publicly.

Labour gained Gorton and Denton in 2024 with a 13,000 majority. Both the Greens and the Reform UK are expected to face each other for the first time this season. Harriet Harman, the former Labour cabinet minister, told BBC Newsnight that her parliamentary colleagues should press forward and concentrate on winning the by-election rather than debating the decision to ban Burnham. Burnham was elected mayor of Greater Manchester in May 2024. His term runs until May 2028. On February 26, the Gorton and Denton by-election is likely to be held.