Andy Burnham blocked from re-entering parliament.

Starmer's allies do have history of this but I make no assumptions as such, apart from the following factual observations:
1) Burnham has challenged Starmer's allies version of events, 2) Peston's second source confirms Burnham's version of events
3) Starmer and No 10 have so far, to my knowledge, ( the story is 4 hours plus old) not given an account one way or another to clarify.

On the balance of probability, in my view, Burnham would not be so silly as to ask permission from the NEC if he had in fact been told in no certain terms it would in fact be denied.

I hope the truth emerges from Starmer himself without too much further delay.

His version of events is that nobody directly told him in advance that he would be blocked. I’m sure that’s true, because how could they, before the NEC Executive made the decision? Is there a case to answer?

"Goodwin has previously argued that being born and brought up in the UK was not enough to make someone British, and it takes “more than a piece of paper”. Times

Just an aside, this is what Reform's potential candidate has said. Worrying isn't it? So what tests would Goodwin have? Religion? Colour of skin? An interest in cricket or Morris dancing? I don't have to have anything other than my birth certificate so what would Goodwin like me to provide if he was in a party in government? These are the people in Reform, does anyone really want someone like him in our parliament?

Reform seem to have selected a good candidate ( if you’re a Reform thinker ).
The Burnham debacle is set to run isn’t it.
I haven’t lost my admiration for lots of Keir Starmer’s continuing contributions to our lives. I’m still unhappy about the way Burnham was blocked

In my OP to the other Burnham thread, which was posted last Thursday, I said that 'apparently the NEC were going to block his application' (if he applied)

This came from a post on Bluesky, which I didn't save, by someone (I forget who) who said that all the NEC members he'd spoken to had said that Burnhams application would be refused. The decision was made long before Sunday when the NEC meeting was held. Burnham must have known it was highly likely.

Nothing about Burnham having already been told.

Goodwin is a bit of a right wing nightmare. An academic gone rogue. But a good choice for Reform...

Yes isn't he? Maizie Do these people who support Reform really know who they might be voting into government? I don't think they do, which is very worrying.

Maybee70 14.51. I'm also interested to see letters from the public in the various newspapers - here are some from the Guardian:

This is a sorry day for the Labour party. The decision to block Andy Burnham’s return to parliament (Report, 25 January) shows that the so-called “allies of Starmer” who dominate the national executive committee are more interested in keeping their tribe in power than in welcoming back one of Manchester’s finest former MPs. Expect to see a huge exodus of Labour party members, especially from Greater Manchester, including me.
Susan Treagus
Manchester

I know it is a bit early, but after the decision not to allow Andy Burnham to stand as an MP, can I suggest that, based on his recent performance, it is now the time for Michael Carrick to be considered?
Barry Coomber
Pinner, London

Little relief for Keir Starmer at football on Sunday – his table-topping Arsenal lost to Manchester United. A warning sign?
Stephen Pound
London

Is now the time to go out and buy a lettuce to see if it can outlast the prime minister?
Mike Lowcock
Sandbach, Cheshire

Fair enough. If you all want a leadership election at a time like this then sobeit. Let Labour morph into the last Conservative government. I’m tired of it all. Let Burnham save the country and deal with Trump.

Can we get this right once and for all.

Manchester is a city to that is located within Greater Manchester

So what areas make up Greater Manchester

Local Areas - 10GM
Greater Manchester is composed of 10 metropolitan boroughs: Manchester, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Oldham, Rochdale, Bury, Bolton, Trafford, and Wigan, which contain many distinct towns, cities (like Stockport, Bolton, Rochdale), and vibrant areas such as Altrincham, Ashton-under-Lyne, Bury, Eccles, and the city centre districts like Ancoats, Castlefield, Deansgate, and the Northern Quarter.

It is true that Burnham could resign as Mayor and contest the byelection as an independant, in which case he would likely lose. It is in the Labour parties interest to keep him in power as Mayor because he may well get beaten as an MP even as an official candidate which would be a disaster.

If he were to win he would be a rallying point for those wanting to replace Starmer and cause open warfare in the party.

Boz

The big elephant in the room for Labour seems to be their perceived will and inability to tackle immigration issues,
I can see Right wing removal tactics coming to a city near you soon.
Monkey see, monkey do.

There is already a removal process in action illegal migrants are regularly caught and deported to so called safe countries

Over 36000 were deported last year, it’s the boat migrants that abuse the asylum system that are the problem.

I don’t understand why Burnham couldn’t have campaigned for whoever Labour stand at the election. He would have got plenty of glory from a Labour win. Then, after fulfilling his role as Manchesters mayor could have contested a seat at the next election. As it is it seems to me that he wants Labour to lose the seat and, if they do he’s contributing towards that loss. I feel that he thinks that it is somehow his right to be leader of the party even though he failed twice to achieve that and stopped being an MP. Would he be so desperate to be an MP again if Labour were still in opposition and didn’t think that he could walk into the role of Prime Minister after Keir did all of the work to achieve that election victory? I think not.

Maybee70 17.09- I feel fairly sure Burnham and others realise there is no "right to be leader of the party" or that they can "walk into the role". I feel confident Burnham knows there is a designated election process or vote of no confidence process.

I am sure the Manchester Mayor role is a busy job, with long hours and commitments in the diary that the Mayor is expected to attend, on behalf of his constituents, during the by-election campaign period. It's the same for the PM and other cabinet minsters. The PM may or may not make a brief appearance to express support for the candidate but will not put his PM job on hold to campaign actively.

Anyway the NEC decided Burnham could not stand so its not his responsibility to support the candidate that is chosen or campaign alongside them. Hopefully the respective candidate will take the campaigning lead on and rightfully get all the glory if they win.

I also think its very unfair, if Labour lose Gorton and Denton at the by election to say Burnham is somehow to Balme as he would have contributed to such a loss. He was willing to take the risk (success not a fore gone conclusion) in putting himself forward for election and was disallowed.

I don’t follow that thinking, LemonJam, who do you think would blame Burnham, and vote differently as a result, and why?

Quote MayBee70 Wed 28-Jan-26 17:09:07
I don’t understand why Burnham couldn’t have campaigned for whoever Labour stand at the election. He would have got plenty of glory from a Labour win. Then, after fulfilling his role as Manchesters mayor could have contested a seat at the next election. As it is it seems to me that he wants Labour to lose the seat and, if they do he’s contributing towards that loss. I feel that he thinks that it is somehow his right to be leader of the party even though he failed twice to achieve that and stopped being an MP. Would he be so desperate to be an MP again if Labour were still in opposition and he was getting didn’t think that he could walk into the role of Prime Minister after Keir did all of the work to achieve that election victory?

He was fully aware of the rumbling from the far left,he could be assured of much support from there, one of the first to criticise the decision to prevent him standing in May was John MacDonnell ! Were Burnham’s thoughts ‘ third time lucky’

Casdon- I was responding to Maybee70 17.09 and her particular comment "As it is it seems to me that he wants Labour to lose the seat and, if they do he’s contributing towards that loss".

I don’t follow the rationale LemonJam, from the comments either of you made, as it isn’t going to make any difference to Andy Burnham’s position now. As mayor it’s not a benefit to him to work with a non Labour MP, and he needs to keep his powder dry now, a lot of people are cross with him. If I were him I’d get my head down and continue the good mayoral work.

LemonJam

Maybee70 17.09- I feel fairly sure Burnham and others realise there is no "right to be leader of the party" or that they can "walk into the role". I feel confident Burnham knows there is a designated election process or vote of no confidence process.

I am sure the Manchester Mayor role is a busy job, with long hours and commitments in the diary that the Mayor is expected to attend, on behalf of his constituents, during the by-election campaign period. It's the same for the PM and other cabinet minsters. The PM may or may not make a brief appearance to express support for the candidate but will not put his PM job on hold to campaign actively.

Anyway the NEC decided Burnham could not stand so its not his responsibility to support the candidate that is chosen or campaign alongside them. Hopefully the respective candidate will take the campaigning lead on and rightfully get all the glory if they win.

I didn’t mean that Burnham should campaign for the candidate now: I meant that he could have not attempted to stand but campaign for whoever did stand in the way that Lee Anderson is campaigning for the Reform candidate. His high profile would have helped the Labour candidate enormously.

You don't have to agree with my comments and observations Casdon- it wouldn't do if we were all the same. I disagreed with Maybee70s comments and responded accordingly.

However I think Maybee70 was suggesting B campaign with the Labour by-election candidate not a non Labour candidate and Iresponded on that basis.

Thanks Maybee70- I had understood that you were suggesting B campaign alongside the Labour candidate chosen to be MP in the Gorton and Denton by election. I responded on that basis. If I misunderstood please disregard my comments on that matter.

LemonJam

Thanks Maybee70- I had understood that you were suggesting B campaign alongside the Labour candidate chosen to be MP in the Gorton and Denton by election. I responded on that basis. If I misunderstood please disregard my comments on that matter.

No worries. I confuse myself sometimes!

I don't think the Labour candidate has been chosen yet have they? So a bit difficult to campaign alongside.

Maybee70- 18.54 👍💐