Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham should be allowed to stand as a Labour MP, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has said.

In January, Burnham was blocked by Sir Keir Starmer and his allies on Labour's ruling national executive committee (NEC) when he attempted to become the party's candidate in the Gorton and Denton by-election.

Labour went on to finish third in the by-election, behind the Green Party and Reform UK, in what had previously been a safe Labour seat.

Nandy told The House Magazine she disagreed with the decision to block Burnham from standing and said she would "support him in whatever he wants to do".

If Burnham had stood in the Gorton and Denton by-election, he would have had to step down as Greater Manchester mayor.

Labour said at the time that the party had decided to deny him permission to stand to "avoid an unnecessary mayoral election, which would use substantial amounts of taxpayers' money and resources".

However, many in the party believed Burnham was blocked because of fears he could challenge Sir Keir for the party leadership if he became an MP.

Speaking to the House Magazine, Nandy said: "He's a friend of mine. He's my mayor, and he was my neighbouring MP for seven years.

"I think he's a huge asset to the party. And I've said before, I'll say again, I'll support him in whatever he wants to do."

She also argued that party members should be "allowed to make their own choices about who they want to be their candidates in elections – I've always thought that right.

"And while I respect the views of colleagues on the national executive committee, I… had I been sitting in that seat – is that what you're asking me, what I would have voted? Yeah, I would have voted to allow him to stand."

"I do understand the argument that he's the mayor of Greater Manchester, and he's a very good mayor, and he's got a term to see out."

It is not the first time Nandy has been publicly critical of her own party. Last month she described political turbulence in the Labour government as "unforgivable".

The culture secretary is the most senior Labour figure to question the decision to prevent Burnham from standing in the by-election.

Around 50 Labour MPs reportedly signed a letter objecting to the move, arguing that Burnham was Labour's "very best chance at winning" the seat.

Following Labour's defeat, the party's deputy leader Lucy Powell told the BBC's Newscast podcast that Burnham "probably would have" held the seat.

Powell was the only member of the NEC to vote in favour of Burnham.

Burnham's application to stand in the Greater Manchester constituency of Gorton and Denton had fuelled speculation that he wanted to mount a leadership challenge, something that he would only be able to do as an MP.

Despite the move to block him from returning to Parliament, discussion about the prime minister's position has continued.

In February, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar called on Sir Keir to step down. He survived that challenge when Cabinet ministers rallied round and publicly backed the prime minister.

Last week, deputy leader Angela Rayner reignited leadership speculation by giving a speech to Labour activists which strongly criticised the government.

The prime minister could face a leadership challenge later this year, depending on how well Labour performs at the May elections in England, Scotland and Wales.

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