Burnham says he would seek to enter any Labour leadership contest

Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, declared he would seek to enter any Labour leadership contest if elected in the Makerfield by-election on 18 June. The by-election follows Labour MP Josh Simons’ resignation, which he said was to allow Burnham to run for Parliament and potentially challenge Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Burnham made his ambitions clear during a BBC Question Time special in the constituency, stating he would ‘seek to represent’ voters at the ‘highest possible level’ if elected. Reform UK candidate Robert Kenyon criticized Burnham’s record as mayor, arguing that areas like Wigan have been ‘left behind’ while Manchester thrives. He accused Burnham of using Makerfield as a ‘stepping stone’ for political advancement and called for ‘normal people’ in politics. Conservative candidate Michael Winstanley also questioned Burnham’s motives, claiming he was ‘disgusted’ by the by-election and accused Labour of ‘foisting’ it upon the area. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has so far resisted calls to step down, despite Labour’s poor performance in recent elections. A No 10 spokesperson emphasized that Starmer would not abandon his mandate to ‘build a stronger, fairer Britain.’ Labour’s Wes Streeting, who has confirmed he would enter a leadership contest, encouraged voters to back Burnham, urging a ‘proper contest with the best candidates.’ To trigger a leadership challenge, a candidate must be an MP and secure the backing of 81 Labour MPs. Attorney General Lord Hermer suggested Starmer could survive such a challenge, stating he has ‘consistently proven his critics wrong.’ Hermer also expressed a desire for Labour to win the Makerfield election but refused to speculate on Burnham’s leadership ambitions. The by-election is seen as a tight race between Burnham and Kenyon, with Labour’s losses to Reform UK in recent council elections adding pressure. Green Party candidate Sarah Wakefield highlighted issues like climate change and local economic struggles, calling for ‘serious conversations’ about the future. Burnham’s potential victory could reshape Labour’s leadership landscape, with his campaign framed as a test of the party’s direction under Starmer.