Labour blocks Andy Burnham from running in Gorton and Denton by-election

Labour block Manchester mayor’s Westminster comeback bid

The National Executive Committee (NEC), chaired by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and also including Sir Keir, has rejected Mr Burnham’s application to stand as Labour’s candidate in the Gorton and Denton by-election.

This decision will likely provoke backlash from MPs in support of Mr Burnham, and will contradict other Labour ministers who wanted local members to be allowed decide the result.

Allies of the prime minister feared that allowing Mr Burnham back into Westminster could threaten Sir Keir's leadership.

It was on Saturday that Mr Burnham wrote to the NEC, asking for permission to enter the selection process for the forthcoming by-election.

Burnham claimed he wanted to run a “hopeful and unifying campaign” and promised to “support the work of the government, not undermine it”.