Andy Burnham has confirmed he will request permission from Labour’s ruling body to stand in a by-election after an MP in his native north west resigned to make way for him to return to Parliament
A Labour MP has said he will stand down as an MP to make way for Andy Burnham to return to Parliament – allowing him to challenge Sir Keir Starmer as party leader.
Josh Simons, the MP for Makerfield in the north-west, has backed the Mayor of Greater Manchester to provide “a new direction” for the government. In a letter to his constituents, he said Burnham is the right man to “drive the change our country is crying out for”.
Mr Burnham has since confirmed he will request permission from Labour’s ruling body to stand in a by-election and Nigel Farage said his Reform UK Party would “throw absolutely everything” at it.
Mr Simons said: “For decades, Westminster has overseen the managed decline of towns like mine. We have talked big, then acted small, stuck in a politics of incrementalism that cannot meet the moment.
“We have lost the trust of those our party was built to serve. It is my unwavering belief that nothing short of urgent, radical, courageous reform will make a difference. That must start with a change in leadership.
“Today, I am putting the people I represent and the country I love first and will be resigning as MP for Makerfield. 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.
“My party has one last chance to do that: deliver for the people and places I represent, drive economic growth, secure our borders, reform our state and politics, and change a status quo that is not working. That is the fight. I believe Andy is the one to lead it.”
It comes after West Streeting quit as health secretary amid speculation he was gathering support for a leadership bid.
He told sir Keir in a letter: “It is now clear that you will not lead the Labour Party into the next general election and that Labour MPs and Labour unions want the debate about what comes next to be a battle of ideas, not of personalities or petty factionalism.”
Mr Burnham said: “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.”
Any leadership contender must have the support of 81 Labour MPs before the ballot is put to members and affiliated trades unions.
A poll of Labour members today revealed Streeting would likely lose to Starmer in an election contest. The three most likely to win were Andy Burnham, Angela Rayner and Ed Miliband.