Lisa, can. you possibly stop this? What do you think it achieves?
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham should be allowed to stand as a Labour MP, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has said.
In January, Burnham was blocked by Sir Keir Starmer and his allies on Labour's ruling national executive committee (NEC) when he attempted to become the party's candidate in the Gorton and Denton by-election.
Labour went on to finish third in the by-election, behind the Green Party and Reform UK, in what had previously been a safe Labour seat.
Nandy told The House Magazine, external she disagreed with the decision to block Burnham from standing and said she would "support him in whatever he wants to do".
Burnham very obviously wasn't suddenly smitten by the prospect of handling complaints about kids in Gorton drinking cider on street corners. He was trying to take over from Starmer, sooner rather than later. You think he public wants more of that soap opera stuff?
- By Bones McCoy