Labour’s NEC approves Burnham’s byelection pathway back to parliament

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If he stands in Makerfield there will also need to be a mayoral contest to replace him in Greater Manchester

Labour’s national executive committee has approved Andy Burnham’s request to stand in the candidate selection process for the upcoming Makerfield byelection.

The Greater Manchester mayor still has two more years of his term, meaning that if he stands there will need to be a mayoral byelection. Under Labour rules, sitting mayors need NEC approval to stand for Westminster. He would also need to be formally selected

Burnham was turned down by the NEC in February before the Gorton and Denton byelection. But after the sitting Makerfield MP, Josh Simons, said he would give up his seat in the hope Burnham could return, Downing Street, which has a big sway over NEC decisions, indicated it would not do so again.

More details soon …

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