Starmer defends blocking Andy Burnham from by-election run after backlash

The Labour Party has been plunged into a "civil war" following the decision by the National Executive Committee (NEC) to block Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, from standing in the upcoming Gorton and Denton by-election.

Sir Keir Starmer has spent the last 48 hours defending the move, which was finalised in a high-stakes meeting on Sunday, 25 January 2026.

🗳️ The NEC Decision and the "8-1" Vote

The NEC’s 10-person "officers' group"—which includes Sir Keir—voted 8 to 1 to reject Burnham's application.

The Supporting Vote: Only Deputy Leader Lucy Powell voted in favour of allowing Burnham to stand.
The Abstention: Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, who chaired the meeting, abstained from the vote.
The Official Reason: The party argued that if Burnham were elected to Westminster, it would trigger a "costly and unnecessary" mayoral by-election. This would reportedly cost around £4.7 million and drain vital campaign resources just months before the "Mega-Election" in May 2026.

🎭 "Factional Manoeuvring" vs. Party Strategy

The fallout has exposed a deep rift between the Labour leadership and its backbenchers:

The Critics: High-profile figures including Sadiq Khan, Ed Miliband, and Angela Rayner had publicly supported Burnham’s bid. Backbenchers like Nadia Whittome have labelled the block a "remote stitch-up" designed to protect Sir Keir from a popular leadership rival.
The "Stop Andy" Campaign: Allies of the Prime Minister reportedly launched a "Stop Andy" operation, fearing that Burnham—often called the "King of the North"—would use a return to Parliament as a platform to challenge Sir Keir, whose poll ratings have struggled recently.
Entitlement Row: Former Deputy Leader Baroness Harriet Harman defended the block, stating that "nobody is entitled to a seat" and criticised the tone of Burnham's reaction as "smacking of entitlement."

📈 The By-election Risk (26 February)

The by-election, triggered by the resignation of Andrew Gwynne on health grounds, is now scheduled for Thursday, 26 February 2026.

Polling Data: While Labour held the seat in 2024 with a 13,413 majority (50.8% of the vote), recent projections suggest a tight three-way race.
The Challengers: Reform UK (who won 14.1% in 2024) and the Green Party (13.2%) are seen as major threats. Some bookmakers have even placed the Greens as early favourites, fearing that the snub to Burnham will alienate local Labour voters.
The Candidates: The Workers Party has already named Manchester City Councillor Shahbaz Sarwar as their candidate, while Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is expected to announce his high-profile candidate today.

📅 What’s Next for Andy Burnham?

Burnham has expressed his "deep disappointment" but confirmed he will return to his role as Mayor with "full focus" on Monday. However, his supporters suggest this is far from the end of his Westminster ambitions, with some predicting he will be offered a seat in 2027 once the local election cycle has passed.