Keir Starmer clears path for leadership rival Andy Burnham to run for Parliament

Mr Burnham has confirmed his intention to stand in the Makerfield by-election with a plan to "change Labour for the better and make it a party you can believe in again" after former minister Josh Simmons stood down this afternoon.

However, the NEC has the power to veto him from leaving his mayoral position, which would therefore prevent him from standing.

Mr Burnham is among several potential leadership rivals to Sir Keir, but would first need to be reinstated as an MP before he could launch a premiership bid.

Mr Simons, whose resignation opens a now vacant seat, won with a majority of less than 6,000 votes in 2024, with Reform UK coming in second place.

Earlier this year, Mr Burnham asked for permission to stand down as Mayor of Greater Manchester and compete for Labour in the Gorton and Denton by-election.

He was blocked by Labour's ruling body on the grounds it would be too expensive for the party to justify running a mayoral election to replace him.

The NEC is currently chaired by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and also includes the PM, with dozens of MPs publicly condemning the NEC's earlier decision to block Mr Burnham.

Junior backbenchers as well as senior MPs, such as former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner, have all called for his return so Labour can have its "best players" back on the pitch during a turbulent time for the Cabinet.

While Sir Keir will not use his position to block Mr Burnham's candidacy, the pending decision is likely to be discussed by NEC officers before the full NEC debates it.

The Prime Minister's current position – with some 90 parliamentary colleagues calling for his resignation following historic losses in the local elections – will make it challenging to block Mr Burnham for a second time.

Just this afternoon, former health secretary Wes Streeting turned his back on the Prime Minister by resigning, with James Murray appointed in his absence.

One minister said Mr Burnham ought to not be blocked from standing because "the circumstances are somewhat different".

Douglas Alexander told Sky News: "So at the time that that decision was taken a few months back, I said it was about the moment and not the man.

"The NEC is charged with reaching a decision as to what's in the overall interests of the Labour Party. That was the decision that the NEC officers reached a few months back."

Mr Burnham's opportunity to stand comes in an area he grew up in.

He said in a statement: "I care deeply about it and its people. I know they have been let down by national politics.

"However, there is only so much that can be done from Greater Manchester. 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."

"Millions are struggling and they need the Labour Government to succeed. It has already made changes to make life better for them in its first two years.

"After this week, 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."

He went on to praise Mr Simons and the "sacrifice he and his family are making", claiming he would "not take a single vote for granted" if he is permitted to run.

Reform secured 50.4 per cent of the vote in eight wards included in the Makerfield constituency in last weeks local elections, and have declared to "throw everything at stopping Andy Burnham" and win over the electorate in the region.

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