Andy Burnham has hit back at Labour's ruling body for blocking him from standing in a crunch by-election. Members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) voted today to bar him from quitting as Greater Manchester Mayor to run in the Gorton and Denton by-election. A core panel, including Keir Starmer , voted 8-1 against him, with only Deputy Leader Lucy Powell showing her support. Labour cited the cost to the taxpayer of running an unexpected mayoral race to replace him among the reasons for