Row erupts within UK’s Labour Party after popular mayor blocked from election

LONDON — Controversy arose on Sunday within the ruling Labour Party in Britain as the mayor of Manchester was barred from running in a special election, sparking accusations that Prime Minister Keir Starmer was trying to prevent a potential rival from re-entering Parliament.

Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester since 2017, requested to stand as the Labour Party’s candidate in the upcoming Gorton and Denton constituency election. However, his request was denied by Labour’s National Executive Committee.

The decision to block Burnham’s candidacy was justified by Labour as a measure to avoid an unnecessary election for the Manchester mayor’s position, which would strain party resources.

Burnham, a former Cabinet minister under Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, has openly expressed his ambition to lead the Labour Party in the future.

The move to exclude Burnham from the special election has stirred mixed reactions within the Labour Party, with some calling for unity behind the eventual candidate, while others criticize the decision as disappointing and call for a reconsideration by the NEC.