Starmer Says Labour NEC to Decide Andy Burnham's Future Parliamentary Role
Labour Party Leadership and Andy Burnham's Parliamentary Prospects
LONDON, May 11 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said it would be up to the Labour Party's National Executive Committee to decide whether Andy Burnham, a potential leadership rival, would be allowed to contest any future election for a seat in parliament.
Starmer's Response to Leadership Questions
Starmer was asked about Burnham on Monday after giving a speech designed to shore up his own position as a growing number of Labour lawmakers urge him to quit in the wake of heavy losses last week at local elections.
Burnham as a Leadership Contender
Some of those wishing to remove Starmer think that Burnham, mayor of Greater Manchester, is the best option.
Eligibility Issues for Burnham
But he would currently be unable to stand in any leadership challenge because he is not a member of parliament, which he left in 2017 to take up his mayoral position.
Role of the National Executive Committee (NEC)
"Any future decision is for the NEC," Starmer said.
Past NEC Decisions on Burnham
In January, Burnham was blocked from contesting an election for a parliamentary seat when the National Executive Committee, which includes Starmer himself, voted 8 to 1 against the move, saying it would trigger a costly vote to replace him as mayor.
(Reporting by Sam Tabahriti, writing by William James; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
