'I was defending Greater Manchester with MP bid'

Andy Burnham has said he stepped forward to stand for the Labour Party in the upcoming Gorton and Denton parliamentary by-election because he wanted to "fight the politics of Reform" and "defend Greater Manchester from being picked apart".

The mayor said he was not abandoning the region by throwing his hat in the ring, but instead "consolidating what we've built".

He was giving his first interview since Labour's ruling National Executive Committee blocked him from standing, on BBC Radio Manchester.

Burnham, who is widely seen as a potential leadership challenger to Sir Keir Starmer, said he did not try to "undermine the government" but he wanted to "create a more positive path for everybody".

Burnham told the BBC he was committed to his role as Greater Manchester mayor but when the by-election was announced he felt it was important to step forward, because he "can't ignore events going on more broadly".

"What we've built here in Greater Manchester is really special," he said.

"In my view the politics of Reform threaten that and put it at risk, it's all about pitting people against each other and causing division… that was a persuasive factor in putting my name forward."

The BBC has asked Reform UK for a response.

The NEC cited the "disproportionate" cost to the party of a mayoral election for rejecting his bid, which Burnham said was "hard" to take, adding that he believed "a lot is at stake".

About 50 Labour MPs have since signed a letter to the prime minister objecting to the decision - claiming it was a "real gift" to Reform UK.

The 56-year-old said he felt he had been "uniquely positioned" to fight Reform based on his record, but he "accepted" the decision of the NEC.

"They are entitled to make their decision in the rules as they exist, but it was a hard one," he said.

However, he said he wanted to call out anonymous briefings made to the media, suggesting he had been told he would be blocked in advance, which he said were designed to "denigrate my character".

"What I really dislike is the way people trivialise my politics," he said.

Burnham said he did not blame Starmer, who he said he had a "good conversation" with, but added: "The one thing I won't leave there and not question, is the sense that some people can just go out and impugn the character of elected politicians."

In response to a question from a listener, Burnham said if successful in the by-election he would have gone to Westminster aiming to help "repair its relationship with the rest of the country".

He said he would have argued for reforms to the electoral system, including bringing in proportional representation, and to abolish the House of Lords in favour of a "senate of the nations and regions".

"Without those changes I don't believe Greater Manchester can be everything it should," he said.

He added: "Part of putting my name forwards was consolidating what we've built in Greater Manchester.

"Defending it from being picked apart."

He said he remained committed to the mayoral role, adding: "I will completely be at my full strength and capacity doing my job.

"In defending what we've built, the wrench of leaving would be so hard, but because that's not happened it's kind of released me a little bit to be fully focused on the job."

Burnham said the last seven days did "have an impact on my kids" and he would "take time to reflect" on the future and whether he would stand again as mayor in two years.

Speaking of the intense media and social media reaction, he said: "It is hard when you see what everybody says, that is tough.

"As I have tried to reflect to everybody listening this morning there was a swirl of emotions and a range of feelings around.

"I am not going to deny there is always an element of ambition in politics, but I am a team player."

He said he had tried to explain to the Labour Party that "we would all benefit from a strong by-election".

"The party's best interest is served by winning that by-election," he said.

"I felt I had a better chance of doing that than anyone given the profile we've built in Greater Manchester."

Burnham was asked about his view on the risk of opening up the mayoralty to a Reform challenge had the NEC decision gone the other way.

"My analysis on that is the party would be better to get on the front foot now in terms of the challenge that's out there," he said.

He described the current state of politics as "very serious" and suggested the country was at a "fork in the road", similar to Brexit.

"I took the judgement to start on the front foot and win now, I think [Reform] can be beaten now because I think they have made a mistake in bringing the worst of the Tory party in to Reform," he said.

"What I was offering the party, I think, was an alternative path to the one that the party is now on."

Asked about why Westminster had a perception of being a "working class free zone", Burnham said: "That question goes to the heart of everything for me."

He suggested it was more difficult for working class representatives to make it than in the past, when there was a "stronger route" from Trade Unions.

"You kind of get the feeling the way you get spoken about is different, there's a club down there you feel that you're never really a part of," he added.

On Tuesday, Reform announced it had selected GB News presenter and academic turned activist Matt Goodwin as their candidate for Gorton and Denton.

Other parties are yet to announce their candidates for the contest.

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