Nigel Farage vows to 'throw everything at stopping Andy Burnham' as Reform plots by-election showdown with PM's rival

Mr Simons won the Greater Manchester constituency with a majority of 5,399 votes, seeing off a strong challenge from Reform UK.

However, Makerfield is now one of Reform UK's top targets in the North West of England.

Following Mr Simons's resignation, Mr Farage said: “We look forward to the contest and we will throw absolutely everything at it.”

GB News revealed earlier this week how Reform UK insiders had already been plotting to halt Mr Burnham's march to No10.

"Given Labour were demolished across the former Red Wall, there are no 'safe' Labour seats left," a senior Reform source told The People's Channel.

"Andy Burnham and Labour ministers show their contempt for the electorate by thinking they can swap out one of their MPs and crown a new Prime Minister. Voters will teach them a brutal lesson."

Another insider warned: "We won every seat in Angela Rayner's patch last week. Ask her if there are any safe Labour seats."

Eight wards included in the Makerfield constituency went up for grabs in last week's Local Elections.

Reform UK secured 50.4 per cent of the vote, opening up a huge lead over Labour on 22.7 per cent.

Polls consistently show Mr Farage's party is expected to pick up the seat, albeit without any suggestion Mr Burnham would stand as Labour's candidate.

Polling guru Scarlett Maguire told GB News: "There are practically no 'safe' seats left, but an Andy Burnham run in a Greater Manchester seat is about as good as it gets for Labour."

Mr Burnham, who represented nearby Leigh in the House of Commons from 2001 to 2017, confirmed his intention to stand in Makerfield after being blocked from contesting the Gorton & Denton by-election earlier this year.

He said: "I can confirm that I will be requesting the permission of the NEC to stand in the Makerfield by-election."

The Greater Manchester Mayor added: "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."

Mr Burnham released his statement just moments after Mr Simons released his resignation letter.

Confirming his decision to step down, the 32-year-old said: "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.

"This has not been an easy decision. This is my family’s home, where only a few weeks ago, doctors and nurses at Wigan Infirmary saved our newborn son’s life.

"But we all must make choices and in recent days I found myself with a difficult one: defend the status quo or step forward and act. I have made my choice."

However, Mr Burnham needs to secure the approval of Labour's National Executive Committee to stand in Makerfield.

The 56-year-old is confident the NEC will change its mind after it blocked Mr Burnham from contesting Gorton & Denton in February.

Sir Keir Starmer is expected to face a leadership challenge from Wes Streeting after the Ilford North MP resigned as Health Secretary earlier today.

While the Prime Minister is out-polling Mr Streeting, a new Survation survey suggests Mr Burnham would comfortably defeat Sir Keir among Labour members.