Andy Burnham has accused Downing Street sources of lying about his decision to apply to stand in the upcoming Gorton and Denton byelection. The Manchester mayor denied claims from anonymous Keir Starmer allies that he had been told in no uncertain terms that his application to the Labour Party's National Executive Committee (NEC) would be refused.
Responding to a post on X by ITV's political editor Robert Peston, which suggested sources close to the prime minister saw Burnham's move as an attempt to destabilise Starmer, Burnham wrote: "This is simply untrue." Peston later reported that a second source had backed Burnham's version of events and that Burnham was seeking an urgent call with No 10 about the briefing.
A No 10 spokesperson denied that anyone close to Starmer had told Burnham the NEC would refuse his application, stating: "No one in No 10 told Andy Burnham not to apply to the NEC for permission to stand or gave any indication to him which sought to prejudge the NEC officers’ deliberation or decision." Burnham told ITV News he had spent the weekend in conversations with people in No 10 and senior party figures discussing the pros and cons, but had not been told his application would be blocked.
Labour's deputy leader, Lucy Powell, who was the only person to support Burnham's case in the NEC vote that blocked his candidacy on Sunday, called for an end to the briefings. She urged unity, saying: "We’re one Labour team here. We’ve got one objective in mind, that is to change the country." In a letter to constituents, Powell described the byelection as a straight fight between Labour and Reform UK, warning that a protest vote would help Reform.
About 50 Labour MPs signed a letter objecting to the decision, calling it a "real gift" to Reform UK. The right-wing party has selected Matthew Goodwin as its candidate in the demographically diverse seat, prompting Powell to accuse Reform of offering "division, animosity and hatred." Meanwhile, the Green party sees an opportunity after Burnham's exclusion, and interviews for a Labour candidate continue, with a selection expected on Saturday.
