Starmer fighting for political life as rival Andy Burnham moves to re-enter parliament, clearing way for leadership run: Safe seat MP quits to give Manchester mayor way back to Westminster
Prime Minister Keir Starmer is today fighting for his political life, as hotly-tipped Andy Burnham has confirmed he would begin moves that could see him challenge for the position of Labour leader.
This evening the MP for a safe Labour seat – Josh Simons, who represented Makerfield in the Wigan area – stood down to clear the way for the Manchester mayor.
Mr Burnham subsequently confirmed he will request permission from Labour’s ruling body to stand in a by-election for Makerfield, which could allow him to enter parliament and go head-to-head with Sir Keir.
He did not say he would enter a leadership battle, but stated he wanted to give “the Prime Minister and the government space and stability as the by-election takes place”.
The move came hours after another Labour figure thought to have his eyes on the top seat, Wes Streeting, quit as Health Secretary while calling for a leadership contest. He didn’t go as far confirming he would fight for the position of Prime Minister, but is viewed as a rival of Sir Keir’s.
Seen as being on the soft left of the party, Mr Burnham served as a cabinet minister under Gordon Brown, and unsuccessfully stood for Labour leader in 2010 and 2015. He left Westminster in 2017 to run for mayor of Greater Manchester.
Pointing to successes such as the city’s economic growth and the introduction of a £2 cap on bus fares, in a statement he said: “Much bigger change is needed at a national level if everyday life is to be made more affordable again.
“This is why I now seek people’s support to return to parliament – to bring the change we have brought to Greater Manchester to the whole of the UK and make politics work properly for people.
“Millions are struggling and they need the Labour government to succeed. It has already made changes to make life better for them in its first two years. After this week, we owe it to people to come back together as a Labour movement.”
Makerfield has been held by Labour continuously since the constituency was created in 1983; Reform polled well in the area in this month’s council elections, however, and the party’s leader Nigel Farage has pledged to “throw absolutely everything” at the by-election.
Speculation has also intensified that Sir Keir’s former deputy, Angela Rayner, could throw her hat in the ring after she said she was cleared of tax misconduct in an HMRC investigation that had previously overshadowed her prospects.