Labour NEC Clears Andy Burnham To Stand In Makerfield By-Election After Josh Simons Steps Down

Labour’s National Executive Committee has given permission for Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham to stand in the candidate selection process for the Makerfield by-election after the NEC previously blocked him from standing in the Gorton and Denton by-election earlier this year.

The Makerfield seat became vacant when Labour MP Josh Simons stepped down to allow Burnham to contend, and the BBC said the by-election is likely to take place on 18 June.

BBC

The BBC also said that if Burnham is selected as Labour’s candidate and goes on to win, he is widely expected to try to replace Sir Keir Starmer as prime minister.

Labour’s NEC decision was framed by a Labour spokesman as permission for Burnham to stand in the “candidate selection process in the forthcoming by-election for the Makerfield constituency.”

The Mirror reported that Burnham is widely expected to mount a leadership challenge against Keir Starmer if he successfully wins the seat, while also noting that Keir Starmer has signalled he has no intention of giving up the office of Prime Minister.

Wes Streeting, who quit as health secretary, backed Burnham by saying the Makerfield by-election “will be tough” as he touted Burnham as one of Labour’s “best players.”

The BBC reported that Streeting said, in a post on social media, “We need our best players on the pitch.”

BBC

The BBC also described how nearly 90 Labour MPs have urged Sir Keir to go and that a leadership race cannot be triggered until someone, with the backing of 81 Labour MPs, formally challenges the prime minister.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said: "Andy Burnham wants to rock up and just be prime minister despite being out of Parliament for a decade."

Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice told the BBC his party would be “throwing everything possible” to ensure a “seismic” win in the by-election, while the Green Party said it has “learnt from our campaigning and wins in Gorton and Denton and the recent local elections.”

Under Labour Party rules described by the BBC, Burnham is unable to join a leadership contest unless he becomes an MP, and the BBC said nearly 90 Labour MPs have urged Sir Keir to go after the party’s disastrous election results.

“- Published Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has been cleared to seek selection as Labour's candidate in a by-election which could pave the way for him to return to Westminster”

BBC

The BBC said applications to enter the process to become Labour’s candidate close on Monday 18 May and that a selection meeting will take place on 21 May, with a selection meeting and shortlisting steps forming part of the NEC-led timetable.

The Guardian reported that the NEC’s endorsement of the candidate is marked for 21 May, and that officers agreed by email that any request for a waiver by Burnham would be approved.

The BBC quoted Burnham saying he wanted to “bring the change we have brought to Greater Manchester to the whole of the UK and make politics work properly for people,” and he added that he would “not take a single vote for granted.”

The Guardian said Burnham was turned down by the NEC in February to stand in the Gorton and Denton byelection, but after Josh Simons said he would give up his seat, the committee indicated it would not do so again.