Andy Burnham Confirmed as Labour Candidate in Makerfield
Labour selected the Greater Manchester mayor without a local contest, setting up a by-election race and a possible leadership challenge if he wins.
- On Tuesday, Labour officially confirmed Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham as its candidate for the Makerfield by-election, with the National Executive Committee shortlisting him exclusively and bypassing a local party vote.
- The by-election, expected on Thursday, June 18, follows the resignation of former MP Josh Simons, who vacated his seat to allow Burnham a route back to Parliament and a potential leadership challenge.
- Reform UK selected self-employed plumber Robert Kenyon to contest the seat, describing the race as a "David versus Goliath battle," while Burnham said voters "feel Westminster isn't working for them."
- If elected, Burnham is widely expected to challenge Sir Keir Starmer for the Labour leadership, as YouGov polling shows 47% of members prefer the Mayor over the Prime Minister's 31%.
- Reports claim Downing Street loyalists aim to derail the campaign with "soft-play" support, though the Prime Minister has insisted he will not "walk away" despite mounting leadership speculation.
29 Articles
29 Articles
Inside the operation to break Andy Burnham into parliament
LONDON — Andy Burnham has long traded on his outsider status as the mayor of Greater Manchester. But it’s a team of old hands in Westminster that will be instrumental in putting the man known as the “King of the North” on the cusp of running the U.K. The Labour mayor — well used to picking fights with administrations in Westminster — is now gunning to re-enter parliament via what will be a hugely-competitive by-election in Makerfield. That would…
Burnham confirmed in Makerfield as Reform reveal their candidate
There has never been a by-election like the one looming in Makerfield. Andy Burnham may have been prevented by Labour's ruling body from standing in a by-election back in February, but now the red carpet seems to have been rolled out and no-one else's name was even put forward.
Burnham Pledges Downing Street Role for Ex-Labour Together Chief
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has been confirmed as the Labour candidate in the Makerfield byelection, promising Josh Simons a place in Downing Street as reward for standing aside. Plus: HS2 has been delayed yet again. Why can’t the UK get anything right? With Aaron Bastani, Michael Walker, and Mathew Lawrence.
Burnham is considered to be the most popular Labour politician in the country. Now he could have targeted the post of his party friend Keir Starmer. For this he has taken another hurdle.
The Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, confirms on X that he is eligible to run on behalf of Labour in a by-election for a seat in the British Parliament. Burnham is seen as a key opponent of Prime Minister and fellow party member Keir Starmer, and the election would be a first step towards becoming Prime Minister himself.
perspectivemedia.com
Breaking NewsAndy Burnham announced as Labour candidate for Makerfield by-election
The decision sets up a contest between Mr Burnham and Reform UK’s Robert Kenyon, a local plumber who contested the seat for the party in 2024. Andy Burnham will be Labour’s candidate for the Makerfield by-election, the party has announced. It is understood that the Greater Manchester mayor was the only person shortlisted for selection by Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee, bypassing a vote by the local party. The decision sets up a con…
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