Labour activists in Gorton and Denton sign letter to Prime Minister objecting to by-election decision
Sir Keir Starmer is facing a backlash over the by-election decision (Image: Getty)
Labour activists in Gorton and Denton have demanded Sir Keir Starmer reverse the ban on Andy Burnham standing in the crunch by-election. The Greater Manchester Mayor has been blocked from running by Labour’s ruling body amid accusations the Prime Minister fears a challenge to his leadership if Mr Burnham returns to Parliament.
But 17 members of Gorton and Denton’s local Labour party have written to the Prime Minister objecting to the move. They said they feel their “future has been played by party figures in Westminster” and admitted they are at risk of losing the seat to Nigel Farage‘s Reform UK following the decision.
The letter says: “As members of the Gorton and Denton Labour Party we’ve watched as our future has been played by party figures in Westminster.
“We didn’t want any of this to happen, but now it has, all we want is a full voice and a say in who our candidate should be.
“Let the best come forward to represent our wonderful constituency and brilliant people.”
Describing the upcoming ballot as a “nation-defining by-election battle between Labour and Reform”, they added: “Let Gorton and Denton not be the first domino in Greater Manchester to fall to Reform and instead the platform for the fight back against national populism.
“As post holders and activists from across our CLP we demand simply that we decide who our candidate should be.
“In that way our campaigners will come out and work tirelessly for their candidate in their campaign to win and vanquish Reform.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham (Image: Getty)
“This means the NEC should reverse the decision to block Andy Burnham and allow him and anyone else to stand before us and make their case to represent our seat at this unprecedented political moment.”
It piles fresh pressure on the Prime Minister, with around 50 Labour MPs signing a separate letter insisting there is “no legitimate reason” for preventing Mr Burnham’s candidacy.
A 10-strong group from Labour’s National Executive Committee (NEC), including the Prime Minister, voted on Sunday to deny him permission to run in the by-election on February 26.
Sir Keir yesterday defended the decision as he argued that a fresh ballot to replace him as Greater Manchester Mayor would divert Labour’s resources away from campaigns for the local elections in May.
Mr Farage said that the decision has boosted Reform’s chances of winning he seat.
