The Greater Manchester Mayor said he would request approval from Labour’s National Executive Committee (NEC) to stand in the by-election
Andy Burnham has confirmed he intends to stand in the Ashton-in-Makerfield by-election, in a dramatic move that could pave the way for a return to Westminster and potentially a future leadership bid.
The Greater Manchester Mayor said he would request approval from Labour ’s National Executive Committee to stand in the seat after Josh Simons announced he is stepping down as MP for Makerfield after citing frustration with Westminster politics and a desire to enable 'urgent, radical, brave reform' under Mr Burnham’s leadership. It comes on a day of intense turbulence for Sir Keir Starmer’s Government, with the Prime Minister facing pressure following the resignation of Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who said it was 'clear the Prime Minister would not lead' the party into the next general election.
Click here to get the biggest stories straight to your inbox in our Daily Newsletter Earlier on Thursday , Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner was cleared by HMRC over tax affair allegations, adding further momentum to speculation about possible internal leadership challenges within the party. Mr Burnham, who left Westminster in 2017 to become Mayor of Greater Manchester, would need NEC approval to stand in the by-election, and would also require a seat in Parliament before any potential leadership contest could formally be entered.
He wrote in a statement: 'I can confirm that I will be requesting the permission of the NEC to stand in the Makerfield by-election.
'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.
'Ten years ago, I decided to leave Westminster. Why? Because, after 16 years, I came to the conclusion that our national political system does not work for areas like ours. I learnt this fighting its failure to invest in the Wigan borough, for justice for the Hillsborough families and against its treatment of Greater Manchester during the pandemic.
'Over the last decade, I have been challenging this from the outside and building a new and better way of doing politics. We have built Greater Manchester into the fastest-growing city-region in the country and put buses back under public control, introducing a £2 fare cap to help people with cost-of-living pressures.
'However, there is only so much that can be done from Greater Manchester. 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.
'People are struggling and they need the Labour Government to succeed. It has already made changes to make life better in its first two years and, after this week, we owe it to people to come back together as a Labour movement, giving the Prime Minister and the Government the space and stability they need as the by-election takes place.
'I want to recognise the difficult decision taken by Josh Simons and the sacrifice he and his family are making. I have worked closely with him as Mayor on issues like flooding and illegal waste dumping and have seen first-hand how effective he has been. He has put the communities of Makerfield first, made a real difference for them and should take great pride in that.
'Finally, I do not take a single vote for granted and will work hard to regain the trust of people in Makerfield, many of whom have long supported our party but lost faith in recent times. We will change Labour for the better and make it a party you can believe in again. '
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