Andy Burnham has said he is “disappointed” after Labour’s leadership blocked his bid for MP selection in a political gamble that risked sparking civil war within the party.
The National Executive Committee (NEC), which is chaired by home secretary Shabana Mahmood and also includes Sir Keir Starmer among its members, rebuffed Mr Burnham’s application to become Labour’s candidate in the upcoming by-election in Gorton and Denton on Sunday. The vote was 8-1 against the mayor of Greater Manchester.