Mahmood denies ‘all-BAME’ shortlist will be used to screw Burnham

As we’ve reported, Andy Burnham has put himself forwards to run in the Gorton and Denton byelection. This proved controversial because Burnham is clearly only doing it to unseat Keir Starmer as PM. Following the announcement, Labour insiders claimed the party would mandate an ‘all female’ or ‘all Black or Minority Ethnic (BAME)’ shortlist to freeze Burnham out:

Amazing.

Shabana Mahmood used her family's heritage to justify instituting one of Europe's harshest asylum regimes.

Now she may block Andy Burnham from standing on anti-racism grounds.

Ladies and gentlemen – the most cynical political operators in British history! https://t.co/XUyOlWkuQm

— Owen Jones (@owenjonesjourno) January 24, 2026

Now, however, Mahmood has said that Labour will not use an all-BAME shortlist, although it may still use an all-women list:

#trevorphillips: "Will Andy Burnham be allowed to compete for the nomination?"

Shabana Mahmood: ".. my job is to be an impartial chair [of the NEC].. I play things with a straight bat"

If theres one thing the faction running Lab are known for, its honesty and integrity, right? pic.twitter.com/tO6DxRZ2BK

— Saul Staniforth (@SaulStaniforth) January 25, 2026

The Burnham controversy

When we say the move to replace Starmer is ‘controversial’, what we mean is that Starmer and his scant few supporters aren’t happy; most of the public want him gone ASAP.

Given Burnham’s popularity in Greater Manchester, he’s arguably the best option Labour have for the byelection:

“After careful scrutiny of the area mayoral electoral evidence, the NEC does not see you as a suitable candidate for the constituency Mr Burnham” pic.twitter.com/0gxkg6YV5y

— Jon Tonge (@JonTonge) January 24, 2026

Despite this, there was speculation that Labour would attempt to block Burnham, with Mahmood set to play a key role as the chair of the NEC:

The leadership of the Labour Party is not strong enough to weather the political consequences of blocking this. They will try though. https://t.co/vfJwQxlqCC

— Patrick Maguire (@patrickkmaguire) January 24, 2026

The former editor of Labour List reported that Labour could mandate an all-BAME shortlist. In the clip at the top, however, Mahmood said:

you can’t by law have all ethnic minority shortlists. So there’s a legal position there. But that’s not the decision for today.

Later on today, we will be deciding one question… Andy, as a Metro Mayor at the moment, has sought permission to stand in the by-election. Under our Labour Party rules, anybody who is a mayor or a police and crime commissioner, if they want to run for a different political office, such as Member of Parliament, they do have to seek permission from the National Executive. That’s what’s going to happen later on today.

…then we will have a shortlisting panel, so a panel of members of the NEC, alongside regional and local party representatives, will then convene to do a long list and then a short list for selection. And it will be party members that vote in that selection.

She later said:

the first decision is he’s asked for permission to run. That will be the decision that is made later on today.

There will no doubt be a discussion about whether we want to have an all-woman shortlist at some point

The Times‘ Patrick Maguire took the response to be a sign that Mahmood would not personally block Burnham:

This is not the interview you’d give if you were leading a No 10 rearguard to block Andy Burnham. Mahmood basically declining to get involved here.

— Patrick Maguire (@patrickkmaguire) January 25, 2026

That doesn’t mean there won’t be a “stitch up”, however:

It won't be the full NEC that decides if Burnham can run – it will be a much smaller group who happen to be from the Labour right faction controlling the party.

NEC chair Shabana Mahmood is asked, why can't the full NEC be involved in this process? It looks like a stitch up. pic.twitter.com/IC2rkXFk7p

— Saul Staniforth (@SaulStaniforth) January 25, 2026

In the above video, Laura Kuenssberg put it to Mahmood that a letter has gone out complaining about how the NEC will vote. Mahmood claimed it’s all “normal practice”. Kuenssberg, however, noted that restricting the decision making process to an “inner core” of likely Starmer loyalists gives it the appearance of a “stitch up”.

Decisions

As Mahmood stated, the NEC will make a decision on this later today. If they vote to block Burnham, it will be clear that Starmer has turned Labour into the anti-democratic machine that the media claimed it was under Jeremy Corbyn.

Featured image via Trevor Phillips