Andy Burnham’s rumoured return to Westminster took a dramatic step closer on Thursday evening after a Labour MP announced he would stand down to allow the Greater Manchester Mayor to “return to his home” and potentially launch a leadership bid against Keir Starmer.
The extraordinary development came amid deepening turmoil inside Labour following last week’s bruising election losses and the resignation of Health Secretary Wes Streeting from Starmer’s government earlier in the day.
Makerfield MP Josh Simons confirmed he would resign his seat in order to allow Burnham a route back into Parliament – a move widely seen as paving the way for the former Labour leadership contender to challenge for the party leadership.
In a statement, Simons said: “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.”
Simons later added that Burnham could “drive the change our country is crying out for”.
“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,” he said.
“Labour has one last chance to drive economic growth, secure our borders, reform our state and politics.
“That is the fight. I believe Andy is the one to lead it.”
Under Labour rules, Burnham would need to return to Parliament before he could formally challenge for the party leadership.
The move will intensify speculation around Burnham’s national ambitions after a week in which his political stock has continued to rise sharply following Labour’s difficult local election results.
As reported by Prolific North yesterday, Burnham also pulled out of a major keynote appearance at the British Insurance Brokers’ Association conference in Manchester this week, further fuelling speculation around his future.
The developments come as Prime Minister Keir Starmer battles to steady his leadership following mounting criticism from within his own party.
Earlier on Thursday, Wes Streeting resigned as Health Secretary, saying he had “lost confidence” in Starmer’s leadership and accusing the Prime Minister of presiding over a “vacuum” where “vision” was needed.
Responding in a letter to Streeting, Starmer said he was “truly sorry” to lose him from government but insisted Labour must continue to “deliver on all of the promises we made to the country”.
Burnham has yet to publicly comment on Simons’ decision.
