A Labour peer has admitted his party is “shooting itself in the foot” after top brass blocked Andy Burnham from running in the Gorton and Denton by-election.

Since the NEC’s announcement on Sunday morning, Sir Keir Starmer’s party suffered severe fractures, with more than 50 MPs signing a letter objecting to the decision.

And today, Labour veteran Steve McCabe told GB News: “This is Labour shooting itself in the foot.

“I think it’s just a mess. No Government would want you to have a by-election at this stage.”

“How can someone who’s halfway through his tenure as the Mayor of Manchester thinks it’s a really good idea to give up that rule, create a by-election there, in what is going to be a difficult by-election?

“I don’t know, but I would say this. Someone with the experience of Andy Burnham must have been perfectly well aware that there were doubts about whether or not he should be put forward at that NEC meeting.

“He must have known that. If he didn’t, God help the people who were advising him.

“And if he did, maybe he’s quite happy with the outcome, because that way he can continue to play the role of the king across the water.

“The only problem is the Government and the Labour Party will suffer.”

In agreement, Tobias Ellwood, a former Conservative minister, concurred the situation on Labour’s hands was “absolutely a mess”.

He added: “It’s an own goal for Labour, it’s so large that you can’t even come in and try and defend it or gloss over it.

“If the Prime Minister was not in trouble, then this wouldn’t be a story. If Andy Burnham didn’t have a desire to push the Prime Minister off his pedestal, this would not be a story.

“And that is where we are today. Because Labour is doing badly.”

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Host Michelle Dewberry interjected, adding: “Many people seem to be contradicting each other at the moment. They seem to be almost briefing against each other.

“I’m not suggesting that is a new thing in politics. Not at all.

“But the public are a little bit fed up with this now, and I’m astonished that the Labour Party don’t seem to have learnt from what happened with the Tory party infighting, backstabbing, undermining, briefing.

“Again, it doesn’t end well for the party involved.”

On Sunday, GB News host Camilla Tominey laid into Labour’s infighting, accusing the party of “fighting like rats in a sack”.

“This is shameless from Burnham and also Lucy Powell,” Camilla told Labour minister Sarah Jones.

“Lucy Powell is Keir Starmer’s deputy leader. She’s plumping for Burnham right in front of the Prime Minister!”

Following the NEC’s meeting on Sunday morning, it became evident Ms Powell was the only member to back Mr Burnham when it came to a vote.

The rest, including Sir Keir, abstained or decided to vote the motion down.

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