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Starmer: Burnham ‘free to stand’ after his term as Mayor as 50 MPs object to by-election block

The latest back and forth.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 28th January 2026

Sir Keir Starmer has said that Greater Manchester’s Andy Burnham is more than welcome to run for Parliament after his present term as Mayor.

This comes after Burnham was reportedly ‘blocked’ from running for the currently vacant local seat in Gorton and Denton.

Since the story, a total of 50 Labour MPs are said to have signed an official letter of complaint objecting to the decision, with Starmer now coming under fire for allegedly protecting his own position, as many see Burnham as a potential rival.

However, the Prime Minister insists the block was simply an attempt to protect the party, arguing that it would have diverted focus and resources away from other issues, whilst insisting that what Burnham does after his run as the region’s mayor is “a matter for Andy”.

As per The Telegraph, Starmer went on to add that he believes his former colleague (the PM worked under Burnham back in 2015) is doing “a first-class job” in local government.

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The 56-year-old was first elected Mayor for Greater Manchester back in 2017 before winning re-election back in both 2021 and May of 2024.

His current tenure is set to end around the same time in 2028, but with many touting for the ‘King of the North’ as a potential leadership replacement ahead of the next general election – which must take place no later than 15 August 2029 – a prospective return to Parliament could be next on the cards.

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Those who signed the letter going against Keir stated that he had “no legitimate reason” to prevent such a move against Burnham and said that Labour’s governing body, the National Executive Committee (NEC), should reassess and ultimately reconsider.

It remains to be seen whether the outcome will change either way.

The internal saga has sparked quite the debate

As for the Aintree-born politician, after already admitting that he was “disappointed” by the decision, he also rubbished suggestions that he knew about the move to block him prior to the event, calling the reports “completely untrue” and simply made no sense.

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Following up in another post on social media, he shared the latest update from Downing Street itself, which reads: “No one in Number 10 told Andy Burnham not to apply to the NEC for permission to stand or gave any indication to him which sought to prejudge the NEC officers’ deliberation or decision.”

Once again, only time will tell whether or not the letter objecting to Burnham’s return to standing for a constituency or any other Parliamentary role will see any watershed.

What do you make of the situation?

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Featured Images — Rwendland (via WikiCommons)/Scottish Government (via Flickr)/Supplied

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Family pay tribute to father-of-two killed in Rochdale plane crash

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Family pay tribute to father-of-two killed in Rochdale plane crash

The family of a man killed in a light aircraft crash in Rochdale have paid tribute to a ‘deeply loving father and devoted husband’.

36-year-old Arian Abbasi was one of two men killed when an aircraft crashed into farmland in Littleborough in Rochdale last week, after travelling from Birmingham.

Emergency services rushed to the scene shortly after 11am on Tuesday 3 February, but sadly pronounced both men dead at the scene.

It’s believed there was no one else on board the aircraft, and there were no reported injuries on the ground.

Now, Arian’s family have issued a moving tribute to him. He was a pilot from Harrow in Greater London.

They described him as being a ‘deeply loving’ family man, whose passion was flying.

He was about to embark on a new chapter with a commercial airline in just a few weeks’ time.

His family said: “He lived his life for his family and friends, giving them his constant love, strength, and support.

“Flying was his passion, and he was on the brink of beginning an exciting new chapter with a commercial airline on 23 February; a dream he had worked toward with immense pride and determination.”

GMP investigations are now focused on finding part of the parachute system which contains propellant and hasn’t yet been located.

Finding the device has been ‘very difficult’ due to the nature of the terrain and the wide area over which it may have travelled.

It measures approximately 10 cm in diameter and 30 cm long and has a red anodised finish. It weighs less than 2 kg. It may have a silver metal collar attached at one end.

GMP said: “Please do not handle the device if you see it. If discovered, contact the police immediately via 101 or our Live Chat at gmp.police.uk, quoting log 1056 of 03/02/26.”

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Featured image: GMP

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Homeless children in Greater Manchester will now get free bus travel to and from school

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Children who are currently living in temporary housing in Greater Manchester are set to get extra support with school travel.

In a move that was announced by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) at the end of last week, and following years of campaigning, homeless children living in temporary accommodation are now set to get free school travel on all Bee Network buses.  

TfGM says it understands that some children end up a long way from their school when placed into temporary accommodation, and this leaves parents or carers with the difficult choice of either having to move them to a closer school, which ultimately disrupts their education, or having to pay unexpected travel costs.

While the Greater Manchester Strategy – which is the plan for the city region’s next decade – commits to reducing the number of families and children in temporary accommodation, and measures are also being taken to make sure residents have the support they need to ‘access, improve, and retain’ a decent, affordable home, this doesn’t tackle the immediate issue.

Homeless children in Greater Manchester will now get free school bus travel / Credit: TfGM

So, to help those families when they ‘need it most’, free bus travel to and from school is set to be provided, as subject to approval of this year’s Combined Authority budget.

The move comes after Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham asked TfGM last year to look at options to help with the cost of travel.

“Using our locally-controlled Bee Network buses to support families when they need it most is the right thing to do,” Andy Burnham commented.

“A move into temporary accommodation is often a massive upheaval for families and can be a worrying time. With this measure, the cost of travel to school will be one less thing for families to worry about.

“It will mean parents and carers don’t have to choose between an extra demand on their household budget and keeping their children with friends and teachers they know and trust.”

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TfGM will now work with local Councils across the region to agree the details and implement the scheme this year.

Further details are set to be announced in due course.

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