Andy Burnham has confirmed that he has written to the Chair of Labour’s National Executive Committee seeking permission to enter the selection process for a candidate for the forthcoming Gorton and Denton by-election.
He will need to receive permission from Labour’s National Executive Committee
In his letter the Mayor of Greater said the decision was “difficult”, but now is the “moment to mount the strongest possible defence of what we stand for”.arguing that there is “a direct threat to everything Greater Manchester has always been about from a brand of politics which seeks to pit people against each other”.
“I see this by-election as the front line of that fight for the Manchester way and I feel I owe it to a city which has given me so much to lead it from the front, despite the risks involved.”
He said his return would be to help government “go further and faster” on improving country and “communicate the difference it is making”.
“I would be there to support the work of the government, not undermine it, and I have passed on this assurance to the prime minister”.
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