Andy Burnham has said he will ask to stand for Labour in a by-election after an MP quit to make way for the Greater Manchester Mayor to return to Parliament to challenge Sir Keir Starmer.
Mr Burnham said he wanted to return to Westminster to “bring the change we have brought to Greater Manchester to the whole of the UK and make politics work properly for people”.
It comes after Josh Simons, Labour MP for Makerfield, said he would stand down so Mr Burnham can “drive the change our country is crying out for”.
Sir Keir will not seek to block Mr Burnham from becoming Labour’s candidate in the Makerfield by-election, the Press Association understands.
“Keir is focused on bringing the party together so it can tackle the issues facing working families,” an ally of the Prime Minister said.
Earlier, Wes Streeting resigned as Health Secretary, saying he had “concluded that it would be dishonourable and unprincipled” to continue in the Cabinet under Sir Keir.
He was replaced by James Murray, the former Chief Secretary to the Treasury.
It follows days of turmoil in which calls have mounted for the Prime Minister to step down in the wake of Labour’s election mauling last week.
Mr Streeting stopped short of announcing a bid for the top job as he resigned but urged Sir Keir to allow the “best possible field of candidates” to run to replace him in Downing Street, suggesting he could be in favour of including Mr Burnham.
Later, Mr Simons posted on X that “nothing short of urgent, radical, courageous reform will make a difference. That must start with a change in leadership”, as he said he would resign as an MP.
“I am 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,” he wrote.
He added Labour has “one last chance” to deliver and “change a status quo that is not working”. He said: “That is the fight. I believe Andy is the one to lead it.”
Mr Simons was a Starmer loyalist and a minister until March when he quit the Government amid controversy surrounding a think tank he used to run.
Mr Burnham posted shortly afterwards, saying he would request permission from Labour’s ruling body to stand in the seat.
He said: “Much bigger change is needed at a national level if everyday life is to be made more affordable again.
“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.”
Mr Burnham was previously blocked by the National Executive Committee from standing as Labour’s candidate in the Gorton and Denton by-election, which was won by the Green Party.
I can confirm that I will be requesting the permission of the NEC to stand in the Makerfield by-election.
— Andy Burnham (@AndyBurnhamGM) May 14, 2026
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.
Ten years ago, I…
An NEC source told the Press Association it is “not clear yet” whether the committee will allow Mr Burnham to stand.
If he wanted to put himself forward to replace Sir Keir as Labour leader, he would need to first win the by-election and become an MP in time to join any contest that might be triggered.
Mr Burnham added in his statement: “We owe it to people to come back together as a Labour movement, giving the Prime Minister and the Government the space and stability they need as the by-election takes place.”
Makerfield has been held by Labour continuously since the constituency was created in 1983 and Mr Simons won it with a majority of around 5,000 in 2024.
But Reform UK could pose a threat, as analysis of the local election results from May 7 this year show that of the 10 wards contested on Wigan Council that fall within the parliamentary constituency of Makerfield, either wholly or partially, Reform candidates won every single one of them.
Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform, said: “We look forward to the contest and we will throw absolutely everything at it.”
Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden warned of the “political risk” of a by-election.
“I think any unnecessary by-election is always a political risk,” Mr McFadden told BBC Radio 4’s PM programme.
He said: “If Andy puts himself forward as the candidate for that, I don’t know if others will too.
“Any decision on who should be on a shortlist for the by-election would be taken by the NEC (Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee).”
Mr Streeting had earlier criticised the “drift” at the top of Government and told the Prime Minister it is “clear” he will not lead Labour into the next election in his resignation letter.
It was unclear whether Mr Streeting has the 81 Labour MPs needed to announce a formal challenge against the Prime Minister, with earlier briefings from rival factions claiming that he did not.
Other possible contenders to bid for the top job include former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband and armed forces minister Al Carns.
Several MPs welcomed Mr Burnham’s announcement.
Justin Madders, Labour MP for Ellesmere Port and Bromborough, called him “the most popular Labour politician in the country”, and said he hoped the NEC would endorse him for the by-election.
“So I think the party will put everything they can behind what I hope is going to be our best candidate.
“We’ve absolutely got to show the people of Makerfield, that not only will Andy be a great MP for them, he would be a great prime minister,” he told LBC.
Deputy Labour leader Lucy Powell meanwhile repeated her support for Mr Burnham’s bid to return to Parliament.
In a speech on Friday, she will say it is a “mistake” to think Labour cannot fall further than it did in last week’s local elections.
She said: “Andy Burnham, Wes Streeting and Angela Rayner should all be key players in our team.
“Andy wants to come back to Parliament – I’ve always supported his desire to do so, and I support that again. As deputy leader, I am confident he would have the support of the vast majority of the party and movement in doing so.”
