Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham confirmed on Thursday he will seek to return to the House of Commons by contesting the Makerfield byelection. Following the resignation of MP Josh Simons, Burnham intends to ask the Labour National Executive Committee for permission to stand, creating a potential pathway toward a leadership challenge against Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
The announcement by Josh Simons, the current Member of Parliament for Makerfield, has provided a definitive mechanism for Burnham’s return to Westminster. Simons stated on Thursday that he would resign his seat to facilitate the transition, expressing his belief that Burnham could drive the change our country is crying out for
.
The move follows a period of intense speculation regarding Burnham’s political future. While the Greater Manchester mayor has long been a prominent figure, he has lacked a seat in Parliament, a requirement for anyone wishing to contest a Labour leadership election. By triggering a byelection in Makerfield, Burnham is positioning himself to meet the institutional prerequisites for a challenge against the current Prime Minister.
The Makerfield Succession and the National Executive Committee
Burnham’s attempt to secure the Makerfield nomination is not without institutional hurdles. He has confirmed his intention to formally request that Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) allow him to stand in the upcoming contest. This follows a previous setback in February, when the NEC blocked Burnham from contesting the Gorton and Denton byelection, a contest which Labour subsequently lost to the Green Party.
However, the political climate surrounding this specific byelection appears different from previous attempts. According to reports from the BBC, allies of Sir Keir Starmer indicate that the Prime Minister will not seek to block Burnham from becoming the Labour candidate in Makerfield. This shift in stance follows widespread concern among MPs across the party regarding the stability of the current leadership.
Makerfield represents a significant but volatile territory for the Labour Party. In the 2024 general election, the constituency was held by Labour with a majority of 5,399 votes over Reform UK. The upcoming byelection will serve as a critical test of Labour’s remaining strength in the north-west, particularly following recent council election losses in the region.
The Path to a Leadership Contest
The urgency of Burnham’s move is underscored by the rules governing the Labour Party’s leadership. Any candidate seeking to replace Sir Keir Starmer must hold a seat in the House of Commons. With the Prime Minister facing pressure following what has been described as a disastrous set of election results
for the party last week, the vacancy of a leadership-eligible seat becomes a matter of high strategic importance.
Burnham has framed his potential return around national reform, specifically targeting the cost of living crisis. In a statement regarding his intent to return to Parliament, he said he would seek to bring the change we have brought to Greater Manchester to the whole of the UK and make politics work properly for people
. He further emphasized that he would not take a single vote for granted
and would focus on regaining the trust of voters in the north-west.
The prospect of a leadership challenge is no longer merely theoretical. The recent resignation of Wes Streeting, the health secretary, has accelerated the sense of instability within the party. Streeting quit his position after expressing a loss of confidence in the leadership of Sir Keir Starmer.
Internal Labour Volatility and the Rayner Factor
The resignation of Streeting is part of a broader period of upheaval within the Labour government. While Streeting reportedly failed to secure the necessary support to launch a formal leadership challenge, his departure has left a significant void in the cabinet and signaled deep-seated divisions. At the same time, political maneuvering is occurring among other senior figures.
Angela Rayner, the former Deputy Prime Minister and a figure often viewed as a potential challenger to Starmer, has also been central to recent political developments. On Thursday, it was confirmed that Rayner had resolved her tax affairs with HMRC. This clearance has been interpreted by analysts as a move that paves the way for her potential return to frontline politics, further complicating the leadership landscape.
The combination of Streeting’s resignation, Rayner’s tax clearance, and Burnham’s pursuit of a parliamentary seat suggests a party in the midst of a profound realignment. The stability of Starmer’s premiership currently depends on his ability to manage these competing factions and maintain party unity following the recent electoral setbacks.
The Reform UK Challenge in the North West
As Labour prepares for an internal struggle for direction, the opposition is preparing for an electoral offensive. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has signaled that his party intends to capitalize on the current Labour instability. Following the recent council elections in the area, where Reform UK saw significant gains, Farage stated that his party would throw absolutely everything at it
during the Makerfield contest.
The byelection is expected to become a high-stakes battleground. For Labour, a loss in Makerfield would represent a catastrophic decline in its north-west heartlands. For Reform UK, a strong showing or a victory would validate their recent momentum and provide a significant platform to challenge the established political order.
The timeline for the Makerfield byelection will depend on the formal processing of Josh Simons’ resignation and the NEC’s decision regarding Burnham’s candidacy. Whether Burnham can successfully navigate the institutional requirements to return to the Commons remains the central question for the Labour Party’s immediate future.
