Andy Burnham has confirmed he intends to stand in the Makerfield by-election, aiming to return to Parliament after the seat was vacated by the resignation of Labour MP Josh Simons.
Simons announced on May 14 that he would step down to allow the Greater Manchester Mayor a path back to Westminster, saying he wanted Burnham to “return to his home, fight to re-enter Parliament, and if elected, drive the change our country is crying out for”. The decision triggers a by-election just two years after the 2024 general election, but several formal steps must be completed before voters go to the polls.
The formal steps required for the by‑election
Burnham must first receive formal approval from Labour’s National Executive Committee (NEC) to become the party’s candidate. The NEC is scheduled to decide on his candidacy on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. The committee previously blocked Burnham from contesting the Gorton and Denton by-election in an 8‑1 vote, a decision that former deputy leader Angela Rayner later called a “mistake”. Senior Labour sources have indicated they do not expect a repeat of that block for Makerfield.
If the NEC approves his candidacy, the by-election process formally begins when Labour’s Chief Whip requests that Parliament start the election procedure — known as moving the writ. Once the writ is moved, the by-election must take place between 21 and 27 working days later. By-elections are conventionally held on Thursdays, meaning a vote could occur as early as June 18 or June 25 if the process begins in the coming days.
Simons himself had earlier resigned from his ministerial role as Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office on March 1, 2026, following an investigation into allegations that his former think tank, Labour Together, commissioned a private investigation into journalists’ backgrounds. Although cleared of breaching the Ministerial Code, Simons said his continued presence in government was a “distraction”. In his resignation statement as MP, he expressed frustration with Westminster, arguing that “Westminster has overseen the managed decline of towns like mine” and that “nothing short of urgent, radical, courageous reform will make a difference”.
The constituency at stake
Makerfield has been held continuously by Labour since the constituency was created in 1983 from parts of the Ince, Wigan and Leigh seats. The name refers to a historical suffix found in local place names such as Ashton‑in‑Makerfield and Ince‑in‑Makerfield, and the area was traditionally known for coal mining. Today it comprises working‑class residential suburbs south of Wigan, with some light industry and increasing residential development. Winstanley College, a high‑performing sixth‑form college, lies within the constituency.
At the 2024 general election, Labour won 18,202 votes (45 per cent) and Reform UK finished second with 12,803 (32 per cent). The Conservatives took 11 per cent, the Liberal Democrats 7 per cent and the Green Party 4 per cent. Simons’ majority stood at 5,399 votes. Despite being a historically safe Labour seat — the predecessor seat of Ince was held by Labour from 1906 — the party’s majority fell significantly in 2019.
Political stakes and the leadership context
Burnham, 56, joined the Labour Party at 15 and served as MP for Leigh from 2001 to 2017, holding senior cabinet roles under Gordon Brown including Secretary of State for Health. He ran for the Labour leadership in 2010 and 2015 before resigning his seat in 2016 to become Mayor of Greater Manchester, a position he has held since 2017, winning re-election in 2021 and 2024. His move to stand in Makerfield is widely seen as a step toward challenging Sir Keir Starmer for the Labour leadership; to do so he must hold a parliamentary seat.
The political landscape is volatile. Last week’s local elections were disastrous for Labour: the party lost all 22 councillors in Wigan, while Reform UK won 24 of the 25 seats up for grabs. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has vowed to “throw absolutely everything” at the Makerfield contest. Burnham acknowledged the challenge, saying: “I truly do not take a single vote for granted and will work hard to regain the trust of people in the Makerfield constituency, many of whom have long supported our party but lost faith in recent times. We will change Labour for the better and make it a party you can believe in again.”
Within Labour, more than 80 MPs have reportedly called for Starmer’s resignation or a timetable for his departure. Health Secretary Wes Streeting resigned on May 14 and is expected to challenge Starmer, while Angela Rayner has indicated she may consider a challenge. Starmer has said he has no intention of standing down. One Labour backbencher, responding to Burnham’s announcement, said: “Game on. I think if we can get everything else to align, we have a fighting chance.”
