Starmer Rival Barred From By-Election, Widening Labour Rift

The UK’s ruling Labour Party barred Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham from contesting a seat in Parliament, stymieing a possible leadership challenge against Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Burnham was blocked by the party’s National Executive Committee from running in the Gorton and Denton by-election to avoid an “unnecessary election” to replace him as mayor, according to a statement from Labour. Eight out of 9 members of the NEC voted to bar him, a person familiar with the matter said separately.