The prime minister has insisted his party’s decision to not allow Andy Burnham to run in an upcoming by-election is correct, because doing so would “divert our resources”.
An election is set to be held in the Greater Manchester seat of Gorton and Denton, after Andrew Gwynne made a deal to allow him to stand down as an MP.
Mr Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, asked Labour for permission to run for the seat in order to gain a role in Westminster, but the party’s ruling committee – which includes the PM – voted against him doing so.
On Sunday, Labour’s National Executive Committee (NEC) voted against Mr Burnham resigning his role as mayor and running by eight to one, with Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood – who chairs the NEC – abstaining.
Defending the decision this morning, Sir Keir Starmer praised the mayor, saying he is doing a “great job” – but insisted allowing him to run for a Westminster seat would “divert our resources” away from campaigns in May elections.
Sir Keir said: “We have really important elections already across England for local councils, very important elections in Wales for the government there and very important elections in Scotland for the Scottish Government that will affect millions of people. And we’re out campaigning on the cost of living, and they’re very important elections.
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“We need all of our focus on those elections.
“Andy Burnham’s doing a great job as the mayor of Manchester, but having an election for the mayor of Manchester when it’s not necessary would divert our resources away from the elections that we must have, that we must fight and win.
“And resources, whether that’s money or people, need to be focused on the elections that we must have, not elections that we don’t have to have. And that was the basis of the NEC decision.”
‘There’s no question of me and Andy not working very well together’
Asked for a message to his own backbenchers – some of whom are angry at the NEC’s decision – Sir Keir said: “The single most important thing for people across the country is the cost of living and that’s why we’re bearing down on it in everything we’re doing, pulling every lever.
“The second thing I’d say is there is a fight. Yes, there is a fight, but that fight is with Reform, and we all need to line up together to be in that fight, all playing our part.”
He also insisted that the two men have a good working relationship, despite blocking his return to Westminster.
Sir Keir said Mr Burnham is “doing a really great job” and pointed to his support for the Manchester politician’s 2015 leadership bid.
The PM added: “Last year, in sad circumstances, we had to respond together to the attack in a synagogue in Manchester, standing side by side, reassuring the community.
“This year with the Northern Powerhouse Rail, we’re working together to deliver something that matters to Andy Burnham, to the region, to millions of people.
“So, there’s no question of me and Andy not working very well together. He’s doing an excellent job.”
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‘I’m getting on with my job now’
Meanwhile, Mr Burnham has told reporters this morning that he is “getting on with my job now”.
Having spoken at an event at a Manchester art gallery, the mayor added: “I have said everything that I needed to say and I’m getting on with my job now.”
Minutes earlier, he joked with the audience that “you’ve all been probably trying to escape sight of me all weekend, but here I am – Monday morning.”
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