Run for parliament by Greater Manchester mayor on 26 February would ‘divert resources’, says prime minister

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Keir Starmer has defended Labour’s decision to block Andy Burnham from standing for parliament, a move which has triggered a major backlash against the prime minister from parts of his own party.

Starmer said on Monday that he and his fellow officers on Labour’s ruling executive committee had decided not to let Burnham quit as mayor of Greater Manchester to avoid triggering a costly mayoral election.