Labour MP to stand down to allow Burnham run for byelection amid leadership row

Andy Burnham now has a route back to parliament after the Labour MP for Makerfield announced he would stand down, triggering a byelection, and putting the senior politician in contention to become the party’s next leader.The Greater Manchester mayor confirmed on Thursday he would be asking Labour’s ruling national executive committee to allow him to stand in the contest, putting a beleaguered Keir Starmer under intense pressure to not try to block him.Burnham said “much bigger change is needed at a national level”, singling out the cost of living crisis as a priority for his campaign in a statement that set out why he wanted to return to Westminster.“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,” he said.Burnham has been seeking to return to parliament for months, but was blocked by Starmer from running in the Gorton and Denton byelection at the start of this year, to the anger of his backers inside the party.Senior Labour figures, including cabinet ministers, told the Guardian the party’s national executive committee was not expected to stand in his way again, with several members of the 10-person committee confirming they would give him the green light.The prime minister’s authority has been critically undermined in recent days after an angry response from Labour MPs to last week’s local and devolved elections, including the resignation of the health secretary, Wes Streeting, and around 100 MPs calling for him to go.A number of cabinet ministers have admitted privately that they believe Starmer will not lead them into the next election, with three telling the Guardian he would be forced to oversee a smooth transition of power to Burnham.Wes walks, Starmer stays, but has Burnham got the momentum? - The LatestThe decision by Josh Simons, the MP for Makerfield - which Labour holds with a majority of just over 5,000 - paves the way for a byelection in the Greater Manchester seat where Reform came second last time.Nigel Farage said his party would “throw absolutely everything” at the contest as he attempts to derail one of Labour’s biggest figures, stalling his path to power. Reform regards Burnham, as a far tougher opponent than Starmer, who has less cross-party appeal than the former.The contest will not be straightforward. While Burnham won the constituency in the 2024 mayoral race with 62% of the vote, at last week’s local elections Reform won 50.4% across the eight wards up for election, with Labour trailing on just 22.7%.In a letter to constituents announcing his decision to stand down, Simons said: “I do not believe this government is delivering the urgent, radical, brave reform we need. We need a new direction. I believe that Andy Burnham can provide it.“I could not stand here and tell you that our politics is broken and things need to change, then stand in the way of supporting that change.“That means stepping aside as your MP for Makerfield to make way for a leader who has the radicalism, energy and immense courage to meet the moment. A leader who is authentic, honest and trusted, who says what he believes and does what he says.“Someone who has the track record of delivering for working people, building alliances and using the talents of colleagues from every part of the party. That is Andy.”Sources close to Starmer believe he will no longer be in a position to block Burnham’s return, even if it means a leadership contest before the next general election, as MPs from across the party would be furious if he did so.Angela Rayner and Ed Miliband are understood to support the idea of Burnham running for the leadership, while Streeting said any contest “needs to be broad, and it needs the best possible field of candidates”, a signal he would back the mayor running.2:27