Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has been given a possible route back to Westminster after Labour MP Josh Simons said he would step down to make way for him in a Makerfield by-election. This opens the door to a potential challenge to Prime Minister Keir Starmer at a moment of deep strain inside Labour.
Burnham is not currently a member of Parliament, which means he cannot directly mount a leadership challenge unless he wins a Commons seat first.
Labour’s national executive committee has now approved his latest request to run, according to the Associated Press.
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Burnham by-election bid adds new pressure on Starmer.
— NewsForce (@Newsforce) June 18, 2026
Andy Burnham is seeking a return to Parliament through the Makerfield by-election, a result that could strengthen his position inside Labour.
Polls show him leading, while a split on the populist right may complicate… pic.twitter.com/KD3aMV22Os
Burnham's opening amid Labour unrest
The development comes as Starmer faces poor approval ratings, a wave of criticism from Labour lawmakers and pressure after the party’s weak showing in local elections.
Burnham, 56, has long been seen as one of Starmer’s most serious rivals and is viewed as the most popular figure in Labour by YouGov’s ranking.
He has been mayor of Greater Manchester since 2017 and has twice failed to win the Labour leadership, losing to Ed Miliband in 2010 and Jeremy Corbyn in 2015. Burnham’s appeal, his supporters argue, is rooted in his image as a pragmatic northern politician with broad appeal beyond the London establishment.
The mayor sketches a different course
Burnham signalled that his return would be about more than personal ambition. Speaking to the BBC on Saturday, he said, “We need to fix politics, to fix the economy, get the basics back under public control so that people can afford their rent, energy bills, etc.”
He added, “We’ve got to see this as a moment to reclaim the Labour Party, to save it from where it’s been. We can’t just carry on as we are.”
Burnham has not explicitly said he intends to launch a leadership challenge, even though speculation has intensified around him. 42% of Labour members in an early-May poll backed Burnham as their preferred choice in a leadership contest.
🚨 STARMER HAS JUST SENT A CLEAR MESSAGE ABOUT ANDY BURNHAM.
— Jim Ferguson (@JimFergusonUK) June 17, 2026
The Prime Minister says he wants Burnham to play a "big role in government" and hopes he returns to Parliament.
Some see Burnham as one of Labour's strongest political figures.
Others believe his return would change… pic.twitter.com/PDXU2jfYI2
The gloves are off in Lancashire's corner
The Makerfield contest is likely to be hard fought.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has pledged to “throw absolutely everything at it", while political academics say the by-election could be one of the most consequential in recent UK politics.
If Burnham wins, he could either trigger or join a leadership contest, but a challenger would need the backing of a fifth of Labour’s 403 MPs — 81 lawmakers — to force the issue.
Wes Streeting, who resigned as health secretary, has said he would stand in any contest, and other names, including Angela Rayner and Ed Miliband, have also been mentioned.
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FAQs
Q1: Who is Andy Burnham and why is he in the spotlight?
Ans: Andy Burnham is the Mayor of Greater Manchester and is being viewed as a potential challenger to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer after securing a path back to Parliament.
Q2: Why is the Makerfield by-election important for Labour?
Ans: The by-election could return Burnham to the House of Commons, a necessary step if he wants to contest Labour's leadership in the future.
