Name emerges as possible successor to UK PM Starmer

Andy Burnham has been cleared to stand in the upcoming Makerfield by-election, paving the way for a potential challenge to UK PM Keir Starmer’s leadership.

Labour’s National Executive Committee (NEC), the party’s ruling body, has granted the Greater Manchester mayor permission to enter the candidate selection process, the party confirmed. The committee, which is largely composed of allies of the Prime Minister, had previously blocked Burnham’s attempt to stand in the Gorton and Denton by-election in February. However, Sir Keir’s supporters are no longer prepared to prevent his candidacy.

Sources told The Telegraph that the by-election is expected to be held on June 18, the earliest possible date for the vote.

The pressure on the Prime Minister’s leadership intensified after Burnham announced his intention to contest the Makerfield seat. His potential return to Westminster received backing from Wes Streeting, the former health secretary who resigned in protest over Sir Keir’s leadership but did not launch his own leadership bid.

Support for Burnham also came from Labour deputy leader Lucy Powell, who said she was confident he would enjoy broad backing within the party and suggested he should be given a role in the Prime Minister’s top team.

The by-election was triggered after Josh Simons announced on Thursday evening that he would step down to allow Burnham to contest a leadership challenge. Simons, once considered a rising figure aligned with Sir Keir, had been forced to resign as a minister in February over an alleged smear campaign against journalists during his time leading a Labour think tank.

The former minister, associated with the party’s right wing, said Burnham “offered one last chance” for Labour to deliver for voters.

If Burnham wins the seat, he is expected to immediately challenge Sir Keir in a leadership contest.

However, he faces a difficult contest in Makerfield against Reform UK. At the 2024 general election, Simons secured a majority of just 5,399 over Nigel Farage’s party. Since then, Labour’s sharp decline in polling and Reform’s rise have reversed the parties’ positions.

At this month’s local elections, Reform won every council ward in the Makerfield constituency, securing around half of the vote, while Labour took just over a quarter.

By Tamilla Hasanova