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Andy Burnham has announced his intention to participate in any forthcoming Labour leadership race, contingent on his victory in the Makerfield by-election scheduled for 18 June. The current Mayor of Greater Manchester revealed these plans during a BBC Question Time special held in the constituency, where he appeared alongside four other candidates.
Among those standing, Reform UK’s Robert Kenyon emphasized the need to move away from what he described as career politicians and cautioned against viewing Makerfield as merely a stepping stone in political careers. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has so far resisted calls from within his party to resign following disappointing election performances last month, and no formal leadership challenge has yet been initiated. A spokesperson from No 10 affirmed the prime minister’s commitment to his mandate, stating, “The prime minister will not walk away from the mandate he was given just two years ago to build a stronger, fairer Britain.”
The by-election became necessary after Labour’s former MP Josh Simons stepped down to clear the way for Burnham’s parliamentary ambitions. The contest primarily pits Burnham against Kenyon, a local plumber and councillor. When questioned about restoring public trust in politicians, Burnham criticized Westminster for prioritizing “point-scoring before problem-solving” and addressed his own political goals by saying, “I can’t do anything unless I’m lucky enough to get the support of people here.” He added, “But if I get your support, I would seek to represent you at the highest possible level and give this constituency maximum power and influence,” also mentioning that if Wes Streeting launches a leadership bid, he would attempt to enter the contest with sufficient backing from Labour MPs.
Other candidates voiced varied perspectives during the debate. Conservative Michael Winstanley questioned Burnham’s decision to seek parliament, recalling his previous commitment to serve his full mayoral term. Winstanley also pledged that his election would expedite the removal of Keir Starmer as Labour leader. Green Party candidate Sarah Wakefield highlighted the urgency of addressing issues like the climate crisis and revitalizing local economies, while Liberal Democrat Jake Austin criticized the by-election as a backdoor attempt at the premiership. Meanwhile, Robert Kenyon rejected accusations of sexism related to his past online comments, expressing regret over earlier remarks but maintaining his respect for women
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