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Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, has received approval to pursue selection as Labour’s candidate in an upcoming by-election, potentially enabling his return to Parliament. This decision was made by Labour’s National Executive Committee (NEC), which had previously blocked Burnham’s bid to stand in a by-election earlier this year.
The specific seat in question is Makerfield, located in the north-west of England, where Labour MP Josh Simons recently announced his resignation to create an opportunity for Burnham. If Burnham secures the nomination and wins the by-election, he is widely regarded as a likely contender to challenge Sir Keir Starmer for the leadership of the Labour Party and potentially the role of prime minister. However, Starmer has so far resisted pressure to set a timetable for stepping down and is expected to contest any leadership challenges, including from Burnham.
The by-election in Makerfield is understood to be scheduled for 18 June. Applications for party candidates to enter the selection process will close on 18 May, with a selection meeting planned for 21 May. Despite Hackham’s longstanding association with Labour, the constituency has become more competitive recently, with Reform UK posing a growing challenge. That may make the by-election a more difficult contest than usual for Burnham.
The political atmosphere remains tense following a turbulent week marked by Labour’s poor election results and internal calls for Starmer’s resignation. Nearly 90 Labour MPs have urged the leader to step down, and five cabinet ministers have resigned, but a formal leadership contest cannot commence until one candidate gains the support of at least 81 Labour MPs. Burnham himself is currently ineligible to stand in a leadership race without being an MP, which makes securing the Makerfield seat a critical step for any leadership ambitions.
Burnham has expressed his desire to transfer the changes he has implemented in Greater Manchester to the wider UK, stating he will “not take a single vote for granted.” Other potential leadership contenders are also emerging, including Wes Streeting, who stepped down as health secretary and has encouraged broad debate within the party. Streeting’s supporters claim he has the backing necessary to initiate a leadership challenge, though he has not declared an intention to run.
Meanwhile, former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has indicated she might consider running but has no plans to trigger a contest. Outside the party, responses vary; Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch criticized Burnham’s ambitions, pointing out his absence from Parliament for several years, while Reform UK has pledged vigorous efforts to win the forthcoming by-election. The Green Party, drawing confidence from recent local election successes, also aims to challenge Reform UK’s growing presence.
In the midst of this political upheaval, Home Office Minister Mike Tapp publicly apologized for the recent leadership speculation, describing the situation as painful and emphasizing his commitment to focus on his ministerial duties amidst what he called a “woeful inheritance.”
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