PRIME MINISTER Sir Keir Starmer was slammed as a “weak leader” today after Labour blocked Andy Burnham to stand as a parliamentary candidate and unions warned democracy was being stifled within the party.

Trade union representatives and politicians hit back at the party’s national executive committee’s decision today to block the Greater Manchester mayor from running in the forthcoming Gorton and Denton by-election.

The NEC panel made up of 10 top party officials voted eight to one against Mr Burnham, who announced his intention to run for the seat when it became vacant on Friday after Andrew Gwynne stood down as MP on health grounds.

Sir Keir himself voted against Mr Burnham’s request.

If elected to Parliament, the Greater Manchester mayor would be widely expected to mount a leadership challenge against Sir Keir, having mounted several public attacks on the government.

Newly elected general secretary of Unison Andrea Egan hit back at the decision. Ms Egan said: “This isn’t the way any democratic organisation should be run.

“I know many, many trade unionists will be so disappointed and angry at local members not being given a say over who their candidate should be.

She added: “Now’s the time to unite our movement, not divide it.”

Before the NEC decision, she had warned Labour that her members would “expect a democratic process for Gorton & Denton in which local party members decide who they want to represent them.

“We’ve seen enough control-freakery in the Labour Party, and it has done our movement nothing but harm.”

Transport union TSSA highlighted similar concerns over local voters being denied a say in the by-election, saying the constituency was being “denied the opportunity” to choose the best candidate.

“Andy Burnham has the experience and personality to serve effectively as an MP, yet the constituency has been denied the opportunity to select from a full range of strong candidates to represent them,” a TSSA spokesperson said.

“This is a critical moment for the future of our party. Labour has lost its way and must change its path to survive. The need to change course immediately is clear.”

The NEC said the official reason for its decision on Sunday morning was that a mayoral race in Manchester to replace Mr Burnham would be too much of a drag on resources “although the party would be confident of retaining the mayoralty.”

A statement from the Labour Party said: “Andy Burnham sought such permission from the NEC to stand in the Gorton and Denton Parliamentary by-election, which would have led to a mayoral by-election in Greater Manchester.

“The NEC has decided not to grant Andy Burnham permission to stand.

“The NEC believes that causing an unnecessary election for the position of Greater Manchester mayor would have a substantial and disproportionate impact on party campaign resources ahead of the local elections and elections to the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Senedd in May.

“Andy Burnham is doing a great job as Mayor of Greater Manchester. We believe it is in the best interests of the party to avoid an unnecessary mayoral election, which would use substantial amounts of taxpayers’ money and resources that are better spent tackling the cost of living crisis.”

Leeds East MP Richard Burgon said: “Keir Starmer and his clique have shown they’re prepared to lose Gorton and Denton to Reform, just to protect narrow factional interests.

“It’s weak leadership and will only deepen the crisis the party is in.

“There should now be an emergency NEC meeting to resolve this mess.”

More than half (54 per cent) of Manchester voters think Labour is wrong to block Mr Burnham standing in the by-election, analysis finds.

Only 8 per cent said it was “right,” according to polling for the New Statesman, and 62 per cent say Burnham should be allowed to run as the party’s candidate in the seat.