A leading Cabinet Minister has broken his silence just hours it was revealed Labour’s top brass blocked Andy Burnham from returning to Westminster.

This morning, Labour’s governing body, the National Executive Committee (NEC), squashed Mr Burnham’s plea to run to be MP in Gorton and Denton after its incumbent representative, Andrew Gwynne, resigned on Friday.

But, in an attempt to defend the NEC’s decision this afternoon, Steve Reed claimed a mayoral election would be “inconvenient” for voters in Manchester right now.

He said: “This was a decision taken by Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee.

“Any Mayor who wants to stand in a parliamentary by-election under the Labour Party’s rules, has to seek the permission of that committee.

“And on this occasion they’ve decided against it because of the huge inconvenience to two million voters across Greater Manchester of having a by-election for a new Mayor if he were to move forward.”

He continued: “So I know that’s disappointing for Andy, but it’s good news for the people of Greater Manchester because he’s been doing such a good job as the mayor there.”

“There will be opportunities in the future, and I’d love to welcome him into Parliament in due course, but right now isn’t the right time.

“Andy is only halfway through his term. So another two years to run. He’s doing an absolutely fantastic job. I work with him myself. We speak regularly.

“I see the difference that he’s making. He will need to focus on that job, and we will select a candidate for the Denton and Gorton by-election, and we will do our best to win it.”

But when challenged over calling an election an “inconvenience” and that some feel the move is against democracy, Mr Reed said voters “don’t like elections that come mid-term”.

Nevertheless, Mr Reed simply regurgitated his same answer, adding: “People voted in Greater Manchester overwhelmingly for Andy Burnham to be their mayor two years ago for a four-year term.

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“He’s only halfway through. Under the Labour Party rules, any mayor that wants to seek selection for a parliamentary by-election has to get permission first.

“On this occasion, the NEC has decided against it because it would inconvenience two million people who only voted for their mayor two years ago, expecting a four-year term.”

Mr Reed, who is the Local Government Secretary, fanned the flames of the electorate’s fury after he confirmed 29 council elections across England, which were due to take place this May, would be postponed last week.

Opponents have since hit out at the decision, which Labour has insisted would help deliver local government reorganisation, after it was revealed the move would deny a vote to four million Britons.

Reform UK has launched a legal challenge against the decision, which will be heard in a two-day trial next month. Mr Reed has previously claimed it would be inappropriate to comment on legal proceedings.

Meanwhile, when he was still Shadow Justice Secretary, Robert Jenrick said the postponement of local councils for the second consecutive year is “almost certainly illegal”.

In agreement, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said Labour was “running scared of the electorate” and “denying millions of people a voice at May’s local elections”.

The majority of councils whose elections will be delayed are Labour-led, while three are run by the Tories and one is under the control of the Liberal Democrats.

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