Labour row erupts after Andy Burnham blocked from byelection race

Allies of Greater Manchester mayor say No 10 has chosen factionalism' as decision leads to a furious backlash

Labour's national executive committee (NEC) has blocked Andy Burnham's request to seek selection for the Gorton and Denton byelection, setting off an immediate and furious row within the party.

In a vote of the 10-strong officers' group" of the NEC, only one person, Lucy Powell, the party deputy leader and a close ally of Burnham, voted to allow the Greater Manchester mayor to compete to be a candidate in the seat vacated by Andrew Gwynne last week.