News · 25 January 2026
Andy Burnham's Bid to Return as MP Faces Roadblocks
Rwendland via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Andy Burnham's attempt to return to Parliament is facing challenges. After Andrew Gwynne's resignation triggered a by-election, Burnham, the current Greater Manchester Mayor, considered running. However, some members of Labour's National Executive Committee (NEC), loyal to Keir Starmer, are trying to block his candidacy, potentially through an all-female shortlist. Concerns exist about the financial strain of a subsequent mayoral election and a possible leadership challenge from Burnham. The NEC aims to quickly select a candidate.
Reported by BBC · How we write briefs