Chicago – May 14, 2026
Andy Burnham is preparing to seek a return to Parliament after Labour MP Josh Simons said he will stand down from the Makerfield seat to create a by-election opening for the Greater Manchester mayor. Burnham plans to ask Labour’s national executive committee for permission to stand, with BBC reporting that Sir Keir Starmer will not try to block his candidacy.
Simons said he was resigning so Burnham could “fight to re-enter Parliament” and, if elected, help drive change in government. Burnham has also signalled that he wants to support the Labour government rather than undermine it, according to Reuters and the BBC.
The move revives Burnham’s long-rumoured route back to Westminster and could position him for a future leadership challenge if he wins the seat. But he still needs Labour approval and would face a contest in a constituency where Reform UK has been gaining ground, making the by-election politically significant.
