Local government secretary Steve Reed said the NEC had decided against Burnham’s candidacy “because of the huge inconvenience to two million voters across Greater Manchester of having a by-election for a new mayor”.
“I know that’s disappointing for Andy,” Reed said. “But it’s good news for the people of Greater Manchester because he’s been doing such a good job as the mayor there.”
Reed said “voters don’t like elections that come mid-term” but added that “in due course, I look forward to seeing Andy back in Parliament”.
Labour MP and former shadow chancellor John McDonnell told the BBC he was “absolutely furious” about the decision and suggested the prime minister did not “understand the depth of anger there will be amongst our members about this”.
“I think it shows weakness and cowardice,” McDonnell said, describing the move as “factionalism gone wild”.
He said he had messaged Starmer to tell him “if he thinks this strengthens his position, I think it will used to hasten his demise if he’s not careful”.
He said it was an “insult to people’s intelligence” to claim the decision had been made because of the difficulty and expense of finding a new mayor of Greater Manchester.
Karl Turner, Labour MP for Kingston upon Hull East, said it was regrettable that the NEC had stopped Burnham from becoming a candidate because he believes he would have been a “frontrunner to win the seat”.
He said while he wanted Starmer to remain prime minister, the decision to block Burnham “provides more chance of a challenge” if the party lose the by-election.
But other Labour MPs welcomed the decision, with John Slinger, who represents the Rugby constituency, saying the “quick and clear decision” meant the party could “move on from the damaging, introspection and psychodrama of the last week”.
Burnham, who was previously MP for Leigh, has been touted as a possible Labour leadership contender but can only mount a challenge if he is an MP.
The former cabinet minister has previously not denied he could challenge Sir Keir.
But in his letter to the NEC on Saturday, Burnham insisted he would be in Parliament “to support the work of the government, not undermine it”.
“I have passed this assurance on to the prime minister.”
Labour will now move ahead with picking someone else to be their candidate in Gorton and Denton.
Once the deadline for applications passes on Sunday night, an NEC selection panel will shortlist candidates, who will go through to a vote of local party members next weekend.
Gorton and Denton has traditionally voted Labour and the party won the seat in 2024 with a majority of 13,000.
Since then, the party’s popularity has declined and Labour could face challenges from Reform UK and the Green Party, who came second and third there at the general election.