Sir Keir Starmer will not try to block Andy Burnham from becoming the Labour candidate in Makerfield, it’s been reported, after the Greater Manchester mayor confirmed he would seek permission from Labour’s NEC to stand.
No 10 indicated to Labour MPs that it will not seek to block Mr Burnham, who wants to stand in the seat that Josh Simons is giving up to allow him to return to Parliament and to challenge Sir Keir Starmer.