Labour Party Blocks UK PM Starmer’s Rival From Parliament Bid, Exposing Party Tensions

Last Updated:January 25, 2026, 21:32 IST

Andy Burnham was blocked by Labour Party from contesting the Gorton and Denton by-election, sparking claims Keir Starmer is sidelining a leadership rival amid party tensions.

Andy Burnham (L) and Keir Starmer's (R). (Pic: AP)

A fresh row has erupted within Britain’s governing Labour Party after Andy Burnham, mayor of Manchester, was blocked from standing in a forthcoming parliamentary by-election, prompting claims that Prime Minister Keir Starmer is seeking to keep a potential leadership rival out of the House of Commons.

Burnham, who has served as mayor of Greater Manchester since 2017, had asked Labour’s ruling body for permission to contest the Gorton and Denton seat, where a special election is expected by the end of February. Winning the traditionally safe Labour constituency would have required Burnham to step down as mayor, triggering another by-election in Manchester, even though his mayoral term runs until May 2028.

The request was rejected by a 10-member panel of Labour’s Executive Committee (NEC), which oversees the party’s election machinery. Labour said the decision was taken to avoid “an unnecessary election" for the mayoralty, arguing that such a contest would place a “substantial and disproportionate" strain on party resources.

The move comes at a sensitive time for Labour. Despite winning the July 2024 general election by a landslide, the party has since seen its poll ratings slide sharply. With a series of elections due in May—often compared to U.S.-style midterms—Labour is widely expected to suffer heavy losses, including the prospect of losing power in Wales for the first time since devolution in 1999 and falling well short in Scotland and English local contests.

Much of the party’s declining support has been blamed on policy missteps linked to Starmer’s leadership, with rivals such as Reform UK and the Green Party of England and Wales making gains. Starmer’s own approval ratings are particularly weak, fuelling speculation among party insiders that a poor showing in May could spark a leadership challenge.

Burnham, a former cabinet minister under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, has long been open about his ambition to lead Labour. Nicknamed the “King of the North," he has previously contested the party leadership twice. While he said he would act as a team player, allies of Starmer remain wary, noting Burnham’s public disagreements with the prime minister, particularly on economic policy and strategy against Reform UK.

Labour MP John Slinger defended the NEC’s decision, saying it allowed the party to move on from “damaging introspection" and unite behind its eventual candidate. Others were sharply critical. Former cabinet minister Louise Haigh described the move as “incredibly disappointing" and urged the NEC to reconsider.

News world Labour Party Blocks UK PM Starmer’s Rival From Parliament Bid, Exposing Party Tensions

Read More