‘We feel Andy Burnham must be allowed the chance to return to parliament,’ Hull’s Labour councillors have said
Andy Burnham has sought permission to stand in the upcoming by-election(Image: PA)
Local Labour Party figures have called for Andy Burnham to be allowed to run in the upcoming Makerfield by-election. Labour MP Josh Simons, who won the seat in 2024, has stepped down to make way for the Greater Manchester Mayor to run as he eyes up a return to Westminster.
Mr Burnham is seen as a likely candidate if a Labour leadership battle is to commence as pressure mounts on the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer. Close to 100 of his own Labour MPs have called on the Prime Minister to either immediately resign or to set out a timetable for his departure following heavy losses in May 7’s local elections.
Earlier this year, the Greater Manchester Mayor was blocked from running in the Gorton and Denton by-election by the governing body of the Labour Party, the National Executive Committee (NEC). The party went on to lose in Gorton and Denton, as Hannah Spencer won the seat for the Greens.
On Thursday, Josh Simons announced his decision to resign as Makerfield’s MP. The seat, near Wigan, is within Greater Manchester. In a letter to his constituents, Mr Simons wrote: “I do not believe this government is delivering the urgent, radical, brave reform we need. We need a new direction. I believe that Andy Burnham can provide it.”
Mr Burnham has since announced that he will be requesting permission from the NEC to run in the by-election that has been triggered by Mr Simons’ resignation. On X, Mr Burnham wrote: “I grew up in this area and have lived here for 25 years. I care deeply about it and its people. I know they have been let down by national politics.”
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If Mr Burnham were to run, and win, in Makerfield, he would be required to stand down as Mayor, which would in turn trigger a by-election for his replacement. He would not be required to resign in order to run in the by-election, meaning if another candidate won, he would remain in post as Mayor.
The MP for Hull West and Haltemprice, Emma Hardy, has said she believes the Greater Manchester Mayor should be given permission to run. On Facebook she posted: “Labour is stronger when we have all our best people in parliament and so I strongly believe that Andy Burnham should be allowed to stand for election in Makerfield.”
Similarly, the Hull Labour Group, which suffered big losses at Hull City Council’s recent local elections has also called for Mr Burnham to be given permission to run. In a statement, Hull’s Labour councillors said: “We feel Andy Burnham must be allowed the chance to return to parliament, to take part in a leadership campaign to replace Keir Starmer.”
Even if his candidacy is approved in the by-election, Mr Burnham’s return to Parliament is far from certain. Labour is expecting a tough challenge from Reform UK who finished just under 5,400 votes behind Mr Simons in the 2024 General Election. However, Nigel Farage’s party won every council ward in the Makerfield constituency earlier this month with around half the vote.
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