Andy Burnham may have a way back into parliament after Makerfield MP Josh Simons announced he was stepping down to make way for Greater Manchester mayor.
This is not the first time this year that Burnham has set his sights on a return to Westminster. In January, he came forward to stand as a Labor candidate in the Gorton and Denton by-election, but was blocked by the group of officers on the party’s National Executive Committee (a committee that includes Keir Starmer).
But after four months, the situation has changed. The government is mired in a leadership crisis. Almost 100 MPs have called on Starmer to resign, including four junior ministers, and Health Secretary Wes Streeting has quit the cabinet. A number of MPs, even members of his own cabinet, have urged Starmer to allow Burnham to stand. The Prime Minister’s authority is much weaker than it was in January. When it comes down to it, will he be able to block Burnham on the feet again?
of New statesman I am following all the Labor MPs who have said that Burnham should be allowed to stand for a seat in parliament once more.
Subscribe to the New Statesman today and save 75%
1. Angela Rayner
In a statement responding to Sunday’s local election results, the former deputy prime minister (a leadership hopeful herself) called on Starmer to allow Burnham to return to parliament.
2. Lucy Powell
The Labor deputy leader said ahead of the local elections that she would “absolutely” like to see Burnham allowed back into parliament and called him an “incredibly popular, approachable and effective politician”.
3. Lisa Nandy
In an interview with House magazine in March, Nandy said he disagreed with the NEC’s decision to block Burnham and said he would “support him in whatever he wants to do”.
4. Wes Streeting
In his resignation letter to the Prime Minister, Streeting said the next Labor leadership election “needs to be broad and needs the best possible field of candidates”, before adding “I support this approach and I hope you will facilitate this”. This statement has been widely interpreted as Streeting’s tacit support for allowing Burnham to run.
5. Tony Vaughan
Vaughan, a member of the left-wing Tribune group of MPs, said Burnham should be allowed to stand, adding that the Manchester mayor had “the best poll of any politician in the UK” and it was “really important to have a race that includes all the talent in the party”.
6. Clive Lewis
As a key member of the core group of MPs, Lewis has long called for Burnham’s return to parliament. In his final statement on the X issue on May 14, Lewis said: “It is very clear that this chaos only stops when Andy Burnham is allowed back into Parliament.”
7. Louise Haigh
The former transport secretary, left-wing powerbroker and Burnham ally said when blocked from the NEC in February: “The leadership should not feel threatened by having one of the most popular politicians in the country as part of the national team. It is not too late to change course and make the right decision. Otherwise, I think we will all regret it.”
8. Josh Simmons
The MP for Makerfield, who has resigned his seat to allow Burnham to stand in a by-election, said in his resignation statement: “I am standing aside so Andy Burnham can return home, fight to re-enter Parliament and if elected, drive the change our country is crying out for.”
9. Keir Mather
Mather, who is a junior minister at the Department for Transport, said in a statement to X: “Andy Burnham should be allowed to stand for election in Makerfield. Local members know best who should take on Reform and they should be able to make that choice.”
10. Liam Conlon
Conlon, MP for Beckenham and Penge (and son of Starmer’s former chief of staff Sue Grey) said in a statement to X: “Andy shouldn’t have been locked out of Gorton & Denton. And he shouldn’t be locked out now.”
11. Luke’s cards
The MP for York outer praised Simons for stepping down to make way for Burnham in a statement to the X, adding: “As a proud Northerner, I want someone to stand up and fight for our progressive values against Reform in Makerfield. Andy Burnham should be given the chance to stay and not blocked so we can come together to deliver reform.”
12. Nadia Whittome
In a statement shortly after Burnham’s decision to run in Makerfield was announced, Whittome said: “The NEC should allow Andy Burnham to stand as a candidate for Makerfield. To block our most popular politician, at a time of grave crisis for our party, would not only give this seat to Reform but jeopardize the future of Labour, I hope all NEC members can get this right.”
13. Because of Fahnbulleh
Fahnbulleh resigned from her post as a junior minister in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on Tuesday, calling on the prime minister to set a timetable for his departure and adding that Burnham should be allowed to stand again as an MP.
14. Jon Trickett
Trickett said in an interview on Wednesday (May 13) that he believed Burnham should be allowed to stand as an MP once again because the contest should go “beyond the Labor Together faction”.
15. Paula Barker
MP for Liverpool Wavertree and member of Burnham’s support group, Mainstream, told BBC Breakfast she would be “delighted” if Burnham returned to parliament.
16. Michael Shanks
Energy Minister and MP for Rutherglen, Michael Shanks, said in a post on X: “Andy should be able to stay and then it will be for local members to decide who is best suited to fight the by-election as their candidate.”
17. Jake Richards
Richards said in a social media post responding to the BBC report that the Prime Minister would allow Burnham to run: “The right decision by the Prime Minister in difficult times. Let’s get the best candidate for Makerfield to defeat reform. That’s the only thing that should get us through the next general election.”
18. Simon Lightwood
Lightwood, MP for Wakefield and Rothwell, said in a social media post: “I hope Andy Burnham is given the opportunity to stand for selection in the Makerfield by-election.”
19. Elsie Blundell
Blundell, MP for Heywood and Middleton North, said in a social media post: “I think we have a great opportunity to welcome Andy Burnham back to Parliament and the national Labor team. Locally, he can champion reform and – with his successes and experience from Greater Manchester – reconnect the Labor Party with people, here and across the country.”
(Further reading: Andy Burnham has a place (almost))
Content from our partners
