Keir Starmer and Andy Burnham have private meeting after Prime Minister visits Gorton and Denton

manchestereveningnews.co.uk · Feb 23, 2026 · Collected from GDELT

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Manchester Evening News IconNewsGreater Manchester NewsSir Keir StarmerThe Prime Minister and the Greater Manchester mayor met today after Sir Keir made an appearance on the Gorton and Denton by-election trail19:02, 23 Feb 2026Sir Keir Starmer met with Andy Burnham today, four weeks after the mayor's bid to stand in the Gorton and Denton by-election was blocked. It's understood the two Labour heavyweights spoke after the Prime Minister made an appearance in Longsight this afternoon.‌The pair had been at loggerheads amid widespread speculation Mr Burnham was planning to use the by-election as a springboard for a challenge on the Labour leadership. When Mr Burnham was prevented from seeking a Commons comeback in late January the party was plunged into open warfare.‌It came after a 10-strong panel of Labour's National Executive Committee (NEC) voted to block him by eight to one in a meeting thought to have lasted less than an hour. Only Deputy Leader and Manchester Central MP Lucy Powell voted in favour of letting Mr Burnham run, while the PM personally opposed it.‌Click here to prioritise Manchester news in Google from the MENA row erupted over the bombshell decision, with MPs saying it made the PM look 'weak' and risked opening the door to Reform in Labour's Greater Manchester stronghold. But others accused Mr Burnham of putting his own interests first and risking a costly mayoral contest as Labour faces make-or-break elections in Scotland, Wales and some English councils in May.‌Speaking at the time, Mr Burnham said he was 'disappointed' and warned he was 'concerned about its potential impact on the important elections ahead of us'. But in recent days and weeks has struck a more conciliatory tone and thrown his support behind the Labour candidate Angeliki Stogia.Writing for the Mirror on Thursday, Mr Burnham described the by-election as a 'pivotal moment' in British politics and said that 'even after' being blocked he has 'given everything' to Ms Stogia's campaign.It's understood that after Sir Keir's short visit to Rushford Park football club in Longsight in support of Ms Stogia's campaign, he met with Mr Burnham.Article continues belowA Labour source said the pair 'made clear this is a united Labour movement in a fight with Reform' while also discussing the benefits of the Government and the Mayor's office working together to improve the region's economy and skills and opportunities for young people.‌Gorton and Denton by election 2026Sir Keir StarmerAndy BurnhamPoliticsLabour Party