It was the leadership challenge that was over before it had even begun. On Friday, former Labour MP and “king of the north” Andy Burnham looked set to make a return to Westminster after eight years as the mayor of Greater Manchester.
Only one thing stood in his way - his own party. While many threw their support behind the popular mayor, backing him to win what could prove to be a tricky by-election triggered by Andrew Gwynne’s resignation, Labour’s national executive committee (NEC) had made up their minds by midday on Saturday. Mr Burnham would not run.
