Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has accused Downing Street sources of lying about a decision to block his candidacy for the Gorton and Denton by‑election. Burnham said that unnamed Keir Starmer allies had told him that the Labour NEC would refuse to accept his application, a claim a No 10 spokesperson denied. He has said he spent the weekend talking to senior party and No 10 officials but was never told his bid would be rejected. Labour deputy leader Lucy Powell was the only NEC member to vote in favour of Burnham and has urged the party to stop internal briefings. A letter signed by about 50 Labour MPs calls the move a “real gift” to Reform UK, which is fielding Matthew Goodwin as its candidate in the seat. The dispute has highlighted a growing civil war inside Labour ahead of the February bye‑election. Reform’s Goodwin, a hard‑right activist, has attracted controversy for his past comments on minority ethnic groups. The contest also faces a possible Green Party challenge, with local leaders such as Hannah Spencer of Trafford council weighing in. The conflict underscores internal tensions over strategy and leadership within Labour as it prepares for the upcoming vote in south‑east Manchester.

Original article can be found here.