Around 50 Labour MPs have signed a letter objecting to the decision to block Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham from standing in a forthcoming parliamentary by-election, News understands.
They have written to Sir Keir Starmer to warn the decision is a “real gift” to Reform UK, as polling suggests Burnham may be Labour’s “very best chance at winning” the vacant Gorton and Denton seat.
The signatories added there was “no legitimate reason” to block Burnham and asked for Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee to “re-evaluate” the decision.
Defending the move, Sir Keir said allowing Burnham to contest the seat would have diverted Labour’s resources away from other important elections.
“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,” he said earlier.
“And that was the basis of the NEC decision.”
Burnham has been seen as a potential leadership rival to Sir Keir but would have to return to Parliament in order to mount a challenge.
The letter was addressed to Sir Keir, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood in her role as chair of the NEC, and Labour Party General Secretary Hollie Ridley.
It said the decision to block Burnham had caused a “huge amount of anxiety and anger” amongst colleagues in the Parliamentary Labour Party and party members across the country.
Around half a dozen Labour peers also signed the letter, the has been told.
Members of the NEC voted on Sunday morning to deny Burnham permission to stand in the contest.
Labour won the seat in 2024 with a 13,000 majority but Reform UK and the Greens are both expected to pose a greater challenge this time round.
Speaking to Newsnight, former Labour cabinet minister Harriet Harman said her parliamentary colleagues should move on and focus on winning the by-election, instead of discussing the decision to block Burnham.