Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has said he did not want to “undermine” Sir Keir Starmer’s authority by seeking to stand in a parliamentary by-election, and called out the Westminster culture of anonymous briefings against politicians.
Mr Burnham was blocked at the weekend from standing in the upcoming Gorton and Denton by-election by a 10-strong grouping on Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee (NEC), which included the Prime Minister.
