Fifty Labour MPs sign letter objecting to Burnham decision

Around 50 Labour MPs have signed a letter objecting to the decision to block Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham from standing in a forthcoming parliamentary by-election, BBC News understands.

They have written to Sir Keir Starmer to warn the decision is a "real gift" to Reform UK, as polling suggests Burnham may be Labour's "very best chance at winning" the vacant Gorton and Denton seat.

The signatories said there was "no legitimate reason" to block Burnham and asked for Labour's ruling body to "re-evaluate" the decision, made by party bosses.

Sir Keir has said allowing Burnham to contest the seat would have diverted Labour's resources away from other important elections.

A ten-member panel of Labour's ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) blocked Burnham's candidacy over the weekend, citing the "disproportionate" cost to the party of a taking part in a contest to replace him as mayor.

The previous mayoral election in Greater Manchester costs taxpayers about £4.7m. The party has not provided an estimate of the costs it could incur to run a campaign in a fresh contest.

Sir Keir was among eight NEC members voting to bar Burnham, who has been seen as a potential leadership rival, from standing in the contest.

Speaking on Tuesday, Burnham denied reports that he had been told beforehand by Downing Street that he would be prevented from standing.

"It is simply untrue to say that I was told that I would be blocked," he told reporters. "I went through the whole weekend having conversations with people in No 10".

Meanwhile, Labour's deputy leader Lucy Powell has called for party unity amid the ongoing disagreements between MPs over the decision to block Burnham.

Powell, who was the only member of the NEC panel to back Burnham's bid to stand, urged fellow supporters of the Greater Manchester mayor to "come together" ahead of the Gorton and Denton contest.

She told BBC North West Tonight that Burnham had been "perfectly entitled to put his name forward" for consideration by party bosses.

But she added that Labour needed to become "one team" to take on Reform UK in the contest, which is likely to be held on 26 February.

The letter from Labour MPs was addressed to Sir Keir, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood in her role as chair of the NEC, and Labour Party General Secretary Hollie Ridley.

The names of those who have signed the letter are not expected to be made public, though they are being communicated to the party leadership.

It said the decision to block Burnham had caused a "huge amount of anxiety and anger" amongst colleagues in the Parliamentary Labour Party and party members across the country.

Around half a dozen Labour peers also signed the letter, the BBC has been told.

Labour won Gorton and Denton in 2024 with a 13,000 majority but could face a challenge to retain the seat, which is being targeted by Reform UK and the Green Party.

On Tuesday Reform announced it had selected GB News presenter and academic turned activist Matt Goodwin as their candidate.

Other parties are yet to announce their candidates for the contest.

Correction: An earlier version of this story stated in error that Shahbaz Sarwar had been selected as the Workers Party candidate for the Gorton and Denton by-election. The party is yet to select its candidate from its list of four.