Labour MP stands aside as Andy Burnham eyes return to Parliament

[Twiglets1]

A scandal-hit Labour MP will give up his seat to make way for Andy Burnham, in the Manchester mayor’s first step to challenging Sir Keir Starmer for No 10.

Josh Simons, a former minister, said on Thursday that he was “standing aside so that Andy Burnham can return to his home, fight to re-enter Parliament, and if elected, drive the change our country is crying out for”.

It will trigger a by-election in the Greater Manchester constituency of Makerfield, which has been held by the Labour Party since it was created in 1983.

Mr Simons is a former minister who was forced to resign over his involvement in a smear campaign against journalists carried out while he ran the think tank Labour Together.

“It is my unwavering belief that nothing short of urgent, radical, courageous reform will make a difference,” he said. “That must start with a change in leadership.”

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2026/05/14/keir-starmer-live-rayner-wes-streeting-leadership-contest/

Immediately after Josh Simons announcement that he will step aside to make way for the Greater Manchester mayor, Nigel Farage told The Telegraph: “We look forward to the contest and we will throw absolutely everything at it.”

Makerfield was historically considered a safe Labour seat -- and has voted for the party in every election since 1983, when the constituency was created.

But in the fractured modern political landscape, it is far from certain that Andy Burnham will win this by-election. At the last election, Reform UK was the second-largest party, with 32 per cent of the vote to Josh Simons’s 45 per cent.

See, this annoys me! The seat does not belong to him, it's not his to give away! If I lived in that constituency I wouldn't vote for Burnham out of principle.

He is elected to serve his constituents in parliament. If he does not support the government it is right he steps down as he will not be able to achieve any meaningful results for his constituents.

I really do hope Burnham wins. The actual progress being made under Labour is brilliant. They’re just woeful with their communication to the public.

I would laugh so much if Reform won the seat.

I hope the fine citizens of Makerfield show Labour what they think of this patronising stunt!

It's going to be an interesting by election, that's for sure.

As long as there are a lot of lefties in Makerfield, they will surely all come out to vote for Burnham. No protest votes or being too apathetic to vote, I imagine.

Absolutely this.

Are there any safe Labour seats left? I'd have said ours was but after the Greens virtually wiped Labour out in our borough last week I would imagine our Labour MP (majority of nearly 16,000) is very worried.

The Greens could be a surprise winner as they are lefties, more so than Labour. Farage is licking his lips at the possibility of a Reform win.

What about the Greens? A lot of Corbynites have migrated there. I can't see them voting Labour for old time's sake.

Congratulations Josh Simmons. You’ve just handed Reform another MP on a plate. Can you imagine the campaign “does Andy Burnham represent you the constituents or his own personal ambition?” Given the voters speak of being disillusioned and taken for granted I would say this is a perfect example of that situation. There is no guarantee that he will win this and I don’t think he will to be honest. No one’s entitled to a safe seat and MPs should represent their constituents.

Statement from Andy Burnham that begins 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.

https://x.com/AndyBurnhamGM/status/2054964815626477773

I completely agree with you.

This whole pantomime is disrespectful of the electorate. If the outcome of this is a new PM there needs to be a GE. I know this isn’t our parliamentary system but for fucks sake, we all know that voters take the expectation of PM into account.

I’m also sick of the lot of them talking about the neeed for a serious debate on policy and direction. The time for this was during the FOURTEEN years in opposition, and the years between Starmers appointment leader and the last GE. What do they sound like - university debating society or what.

I am also horrified that this will more likely now lead to a reform win at the next GE because let’s face it, Labour has self sabotaged themselves.

I am sympathetic to Labour policy though I didn’t vote for them last time. But I am furious at these MPs wasting time and energy on this crap they just should have sorted out the fallout from the recent elections quietly and in a grown up way.

Burnham is rightfully adored in Manchester, and has been a brilliant mayor for them.

We could have Farage on the ropes and Labour hits themselves in the face…

The Green party didn't do so well there at the last general election, gaining only 4.4% of the votes.

The Greens have grown since then but have also been tarnished recently from being associated with antisemitism.

I feel pretty confident Burnham would win it. Whether that's a good thing for Labour I don't know (prefer Starmer or Streeting to him, personally).

members.parliament.uk/constituency/4165/election/422

Well maybe he should finish his term? Like Streeting should have. Being Mayor is also very different to Westminster. Anyone remember how brilliant Burnham was last time 🤣. Can’t be doing with this saviour mentality. Sure maybe he’d do a good job but it’s not the right time. Mind you, now that this leadership stuff has been unleashed I don’t suppose that matters any more.

Load of bloody selfish shenanigans. That said Burnham may be able to win it. At least it's his home constituency and he is largely well liked in the area. Reform will have their work cut out.

I think it's risky - it might backfire

I don't think there's any such thing as a safe seat

The last election is less than two years ago but already seems like ancient history. The Greens have risen astonishingly in that time. Some people, especially younger voters, inexplicably think Polanski is wonderful. The antisemitism accusations didn't hurt them at all in the elections last week.

Can you imagine the humiliation if he loses? I’m currently with Starmer. This by-election is a waste of money and then there’s the mayoral race and the cost of that. People are suffering with the cost of living and Labour are playing games.

The Greens don't have a chance in Makerfield. It's a straight race between Labour and Reform.

Andy is a local though and is very well liked throughout Greater Manchester. I would have been 100% behind him if my Greater Manchester MP had resigned and given Andy a chance to fight in our constituency.

I’m not sure the labour party rank and file membership is going to be impressed by the shenanigans either

Burnham absolutely should finish his term, then go for a seat in parliament. But the knives out for Starmer and Streeting's move means that if there's a leadership contest now, there'll probably be another one in two years with Burnham in contention. Can we really see Streeting being a success? So Burnham may as well go now.

He's been great as mayor, has now got loads more experience and hopefully will be able to run for leadership.

I don't want all this chaos, I think it's counterproductive, but if we're having it at least get a decent leadership alternative set up.

Is Burnham going to be allowed to stand this time or will Starmer block him?

Reform got over £0% of the vote in the 2024 election there and I’d say are more popular now than then so results will be interesting.  If Burnham has to stand down as mayor first he could well find himself unemployed soon.  And then a risk of a Reform mayor for Manchester which would be a shame.