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/

What on earth happened to previous post! Was saying that reform got over 30% of the vote in that constituency in the general election and if Reform are rising in popularity then the results will be interesting. Burnham could soon be unemployed if he has to stand down as mayor first. Then there’s the risk of a reform mayor for Manchester as well.

The media have got the bit between their teeth now though and will be pointing out antisemitism every time it occurs from a Green candidate & making a big thing about it.

Will the Mayor role for Manchester also go up for election now?. Potentially Reform could end up with another MP and the Mayor of Greater Manchester. That would be seen as a massive win for them. I can just imagine Farage's gloating.

I don't know! Something odd happened to your post.

Oooh. I do like a pun 😉

Can I ask why everyone thinks Andy Burnham is so great? I must admit being in the South West I haven’t heard much about what he has done for Manchester and why he would be such an amazing PM.

I’m interested in learning more about him.

agree the whole thing is a shambles and can’t quite believe that the labour mp’s think this is what the country wants.

Im disgusted at the way they’re behaving. They’re supposed to be running the country not playing silly games. I hope that opportunist Burnham loses. Disgraceful. I’m not sure I’ll ever vote Labour again after this nonsense.

I actually really rate Burnham. I would love to see him as PM. He has more talent than Starmer, Streeting and Rayner put together.

What's so good about him?

I’ve heard so many people on radio phone ins say similar. There seems a massive disconnect between what the Labour MPs are doing versus what the public wants. I’ve heard Labour members and others say the same. It seems to be taking some of the press and radio hosts by surprise the support for Starmer.

Also, handsome. Much easier on the eye than Wes, who looks like a spoon (yes, I am that shallow)

He’s massively improved public transport with the Bee Network.
hes very vocal/outspoken In trying to get National type funding for Manchester/promoting it as a northern powerhouse.

manchester is totally buzzing these days, a lot of investment, lot of building work, shops opening, cafes opening, people moving here.

lots of regeneration which he’s been pivotal in getting investors to kick off.

lots of adult skills development which he’s secured funding for and champions.

he speaks passionately about homelessness and donates part of his annual salary for charity. Most people locally see him as down to earth and genuine in listening to people and doing his best.

everyone locally loves how he stood up to Boris regarding Covid money for furloughed workers. Boris was threatening to cut money for Manchester if Burnham didn’t do as told about a tier lock down and Burnham took him on.

Thank you, he sounds a great mayor for Manchester.

I am a reform voter and I just don't understand why Labour is doing this to themselves. Nigel is likely thrilled.

I just think oh look, another fucking self interested man framing himself as the Messiah to be honest. I think Labour have done good stuff though I'm not a Keir Starmer fan especially. Yes, they need to sack their pr team. But we don't have a presidential system so we, it doesn't matter if the prime minster doesn't have a zingy teeth smile does it

Maybe the public in that area would prefer him to stay as mayor - just a thought.

I've no knowledge of him, can't see the appeal.

But I hate when things are engineered artificially like this. So sorry but I hope he loses because of that.

All of this plus he’s passionate, intelligent, well educated and has integrity. He also has what neither Starmer, Streeting or Rayner has, charisma.

Keir Starmer will not block Andy Burnham from standing for Parliament.

No 10 has indicated to Labour MPs that it will not seek to block him from standing for a seat in Makerfield.

He’s not giving it away, he is simply giving it up. Then it’s the choice of the electorate who they vote in in his place.

It is somewhat of a gamble by the Labour Party though. If Reform manage to win the seat, it will plunge the Labour Party deeper into crisis.

Being a mayor is very different to being PM.

Burnham is left wing but the problem is the country doesn’t want to go left wing.

Reform did well in the council elections, apparently if there was a GE tomorrow they’d win with a minority government.

With a by election, anyone could win though.

Wouldnt be humiliating for Burnham if he loses ? He surely couldn’t go back to being mayor again ?

Andy was MP for Leigh for 16 years which is a neighbouring area so is very well known and well respected in the area.

As others have said he now has a track record as mayor - Manchester was the first to get devolution. He has an excellent team behind him and Manchester compared to rest of the country is ahead in terms of employment economic growth transport homelessness.

His results speak for themselves and I think it will be interesting to see how much money Reform throw at it and who they choose as a candidate

He is left wing but afaik he’s more of a Tony Blair left wing than a Jeremy Corbyn left wing.

i think people will vote for him as an individual rather than voting for the Labour Party (locally, maybe not nationally).

Agree with so many comments on this thread but, but, but… if he could do for Britain’s economy what’s he’s done for Manchester’s….?

I know how far fetched that sounds right now though.

So we have:

• Several weeks of uncertainty with KS limping on, unable to make long-term decisions because he doesn't know if he'll be in office long enough to implement them, unable to push anything radical through the Commons because half his MPs are liable to rebel.

• Time and money being wasted on a by-election which Burnham is far from guaranteed to win, and which may net Reform another MP.

• Wes Streeting hanging around like a bad smell around a drain.

• More market turmoil, more Labour Party infighting, more voters just getting totally fucking disillusioned with the whole situation.

• Britain looking like a banana republic which can't keep a stable government.

I'm so sick and tired of this. I really thought when Labour won in 2024 that we'd left the May/Johnson/Truss/Sunak madness behind. It's so depressing to see it happening all over again.