
Could Andy Burnham be on the brink of becoming a member of parliament?
After former minister Andrew Gwynne stepped down as a Labour MP, his Gorton and Denton constituency has been touted as a potential seat for the mayor of Greater Manchester.
Starmer responds to leadership speculation – politics latest
Well, he faces a BIG hurdle.
It’s not clear if Burnham will be able to run as an MP. Pic: PA
There is a new rule – introduced in the 2026 Labour rule book – about mayors wanting to become an MP.
It says: “Directly Elected Mayors and Police and Crime Commissioners must seek the express permission of the NEC/SEC/WEC (as applicable) before seeking nomination as Labour candidates for the Westminster Parliament.
“The NEC/SEC/WEC’s decision shall be final.”
Burnham would have to stand down as Manchester mayor, triggering an election for that post – which Labour are not guaranteed to win and will cost hundreds of thousands of pounds.
So, these are the grounds that could be used to block Burnham by Labour’s National Executive Committee (NEC).
I’m told Sir Keir Starmer’s chief-of-staff Morgan McSweeney thinks he’s got the NEC sewn up to block Burnham.
But you never quite know.
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Who’s said what about by-election?
- Sir Keir Starmer: “Every minute we waste talking about anything other than the cost of living and stability in Europe and across the globe is a wasted minute.”
- Andy Burnham: “People shouldn’t rush to conclusions. I have been very focused on my role as Mayor of Greater Manchester.”
- Robert Jenrick: “We will be fielding a strong candidate, and if you want to send a message to Keir Starmer in that election, then I’d urge local people to vote Reform.”
- Greens: “We were deadly serious when we said we are not here to be disappointed with Labour, but we are here to replace them. “We have many talented members, and it is down to the local party to choose who they want to represent them in this upcoming by-election.”
If Burnham is granted permission to apply for the seat, the NEC creates a long and a shortlist.
NEC member Cat Arnold told Sky News there must be a “free and fair selection, at long list and shortlist stage”.
“It would be completely unacceptable to gerrymander or unduly narrow the list of potential candidates,” she said.
Changing leader would be ‘a bit Tory’
A cabinet minister told me last week about a leadership challenge: “Changing leader is a bit Tory for me.”
“If we try to change leader, the party will end up tacking to the left and that’s not Labour’s problem with the country, so it won’t be the solution,” they said.
“It’s probably better to try to work on making Starmer better.”
The long list is done over email, then the shortlisting is done by a panel.
The panel has three members of the NEC, one member of the board and a local constituency representative.
The panel is chosen by the office of the general secretary, Hollie Ridley, who is close to McSweeney.
So it’s far from clear Burnham wins this.
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