Andy Burnham has rubbished reports that he knew his bid to become Gorton and Denton MP would be blocked, suggesting he did so 'destabilise Keir Starmer'.

ITV political editor Robert Peston reported on Tuesday (January 27) that 'sources close to the Prime Minister' said 'Andy Burnham was informed in no uncertain terms that he would be repulsed if he requested permission of [Labour's ruling] National Executive Committee (NEC) committee to put his name forward for the Gorton and Denton by-election'.

Peston added on social media: "He chose to do so, they say, knowing the outcome in advance. They therefore interpret his application as an explicit attempt to destabilise Starmer and sow dissent, rather than — which he claims — see off the threat from Reform."

The Greater Manchester mayor rubbished the report with a pithy reply: "This is simply untrue."

Earlier in the day, senior Labour figures said the matter was 'done and dusted' after roughly 50 MPs sent a letter to the party's top brass, accusing them of conducting a 'remote stitch-up' by a 'small group of people at the very top in London'.

Campaigning in Gorton and Denton is now firmly underway, with activists from major parties photographed in the area in recent days. Some images shared by Lee Anderson, a senior Reform MP, showed campaigners stood outside Stanley House Functions Rooms ahead of the vote.

Writing on X, formerly Twitter, he said: "Gorton and Denton. A cold but productive day in what will be a hotly contested seat." He shared a link to the party's X handle and concluded: "Bring it on."

But the MP was criticised after it emerged the location isn't in Gorton or Denton, but in the Ashton-under-Lyne constituency of Angela Rayner MP, the former deputy prime minister.

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A Boundary Commission map shows Stanley House Function Rooms are around half a kilometre outside the constituency that will be contested.

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