Why Andy Burnham has a second chance to be an MP

It is just over three months since Andy Burnham was first given a potential path back to becoming an MP.

Labour MP Andrew Gwynne resigned as MP for Gorton and Denton citing "significant ill health" sparking an attempt by the Greater Manchester Mayor to become his successor.

Labour Party rules meant that as metro mayor Burnham had to receive the approval of its ruling body the National Executive Committee (NEC) .

It had been seen as his route back to Westminster after a nine year absence, and a possible chance to challenge the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

The NEC met on 25 January and voted 8–1 against Burnham's candidacy with most NEC officers – including Starmer voting against him, NEC Chair and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood abstaining with only party Deputy Leader Lucy Powell voting to allow Burnham to stand.

The official line from NEC related to the prospect of causing a vacancy for the metro mayor.

A statement from NEC said it believed Burnham's candidacy would have caused "an unnecessary election for the position of Greater Manchester mayor" with "a substantial and disproportionate impact on party campaign resources ahead of the local elections and elections to the Scottish parliament and Welsh Senedd in May."

It added: "Although the party would be confident of retaining the mayoralty, the NEC could not put Labour's control of Greater Manchester at any risk.

Some analysts also saw it as Starmer heading off a leadership challenge.

However a number of MPs felt it was a "huge mistake" especially when the party lost one of its safest seats to Green candidate Hannah Spencer.

Even on Tuesday Burnham's Labour colleague Jo Platt, MP for Leigh and Atherton, told Radio Manchester: "Even in these recent local elections people were asking us 'why did they block Andy?' What were they scared of?'"

This time round after the resignation of Josh Simons as MP for Makerfield it looks like Burnham will be allowed to enter the candidate selection process even though the issue of potential vacancy for the metro mayor in Greater Manchester still exists should Burnham win the seat

The BBC understands Starmer will not stand in his way now.

Last week's catastrophic local election results have seen the PM facing more than one challenger for his leadership.

In any case even if Burnham wins the nomination to stand he would have to overcome a challenging hurdle in a seat where despite his having local links Reform UK have high hopes of winning.

Last week's local election results saw a Reform UK councillor elected in all nine wards that make up the parliamentary seat.

It could be argued Starmer can afford to allow Burnham to run, when his path back to Westminster looks to a less than straightforward.

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