Sir Keir Starmer’s allies look set to “stitch-up” Andy Burnham’s potential by-election bid in Gorton & Denton by adopting either an ethnic minority or all-women shortlist, insiders have claimed.

Mr Burnham, who is expected to mount a bid to return to Westminster following the resignation of ex-Health Minister Andrew Gwynne yesterday, faces a number of hurdles before being selected as the potential by-election candidate.

He would have to resign from his post as Greater Manchester Mayor, despite insisting to GB News in 2024 that he would remain in post to the end of his term.

However, it has since emerged that Labour’s NEC could look to block Mr Burnham even if he resigns from his post.

Politics Home has suggested that an all-ethnic minority shortlist of candidates could halt Mr Burnham’s comeback.

It has also been suggested that the NEC might be drawing up an all-female shortlist.

Matthew Torbitt, a former Labour staffer and regular GB News panellist, said: “Third in the polls, about to get trounced in May, the most unpopular Prime Minister in living memory, so what’s the solution?

“DEI nonsense to stitch it up because a candidate is too good and essentially overqualified. I say this earnestly, this will be the final straw for me.”

The Prime Minister has insisted Labour has not yet selected its candidate for the looming showdown.

He said: “It is a very early stage, and the national executive committee of the Labour Party will set out the process in the usual way, as it always does for by-elections.

“Andy Burnham is doing an excellent job as mayor of Manchester. We work very closely together.”

Sir Keir is facing a huge challenge from Nigel Farage in Gorton & Denton, with Reform UK vowing to “throw everything” at beating Labour.

In a warning to the Prime Minister, polling guru Sir John Curtice said: “If Andy Burnham is not the candidate, particularly if he is stopped by Labour, and Labour then lose, Keir Starmer is going to get the blame.

“If Burnham fights the by-election he will be putting his alleged popularity and ability to turn around Labour’s fortunes to the test.

“If he loses, that’s the end, but if he wins that could raise questions for the PM.”

Green Party leader Zack Polanski, who was born in Manchester, is also mulling over standing in the seat.

FOLLOW BELOW FOR LIVE UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE DAY…

PM: ‘Andy Burnham is doing excellent job in Manchester’

Sir Keir Starmer yesterday claimed Andy Burnham is doing an “excellent job” as Greater Manchester Mayor after being asked if the former Health Secretary would be Labour’s candidate in Gorton & Denton.

The Prime Minister said: “Andy Burnham is doing an excellent job as mayor of Manchester. We work very closely together.

“Last year, we were responding together to the terrible attack on a synagogue in Manchester. More recently, we were working together on Northern Powerhouse Rail.

“I think Andy would acknowledge that working with this Government has been much better than the experience he had of working with previous governments.”

Andy Burnham: ‘I’ve been kept in the dark about MP’s resignation’

Andy Burnham yesterday insisted he had been kept “in the dark” about Mr Gwynne’s decision to step down.

“I’ve had no contact on this issue with Andrew or anyone close to him,” Mr Burnham said.

“I know him of old, of course, but I’m as in the dark about this as anyone. People shouldn’t rush to conclusions.”

Keir Starmer buckles to Labour rebels after peers defeat PM in crunch vote

Sir Keir Starmer looks set to buckle to Labour rebels after being defeated in the House of Lords on an amendment vote to implement an Australian-style ban on children under 16 accessing social media platforms.

Peers voted by 261 to 150 in favour of a ban, with as many as 60 Labour MPs also demanding that the UK introduces a social media ban for teenagers.

Fred Thomas, the MP who organised a letter by 60 Labour MPs calling for a ban, said he would “welcome” the amendment to ban under-16s from social media “through secondary legislation, based on consultation”.

He added: “I am confident consultation and evidence-gathering, including from young people themselves, will show what I believe is crystal clear: there is overwhelming and conclusive evidence that algorithmically addictive social-media content is causing a public-health crisis and that parents, educators and children need the Government to step in and protect children.”