Labour MP Josh Simons Stands Down to Clear Path for Andy Burnham in Makerfield

Two major obstacles to Andy Burnham's return to Parliament have been removed.

Labour MP Josh Simons has stood down from Makerfield, paving the way for the Greater Manchester mayor to stand as a candidate. Earlier this year, before the Gorton and Denton by-election, Sir Keir Starmer used his control over Labour's National Executive Committee to prevent Burnham from running. Number 10 has now indicated it will not intervene this time.

After a week in which nearly a third of the party, including the health secretary and four ministers, called for the prime minister to resign, Sir Keir lacked the authority to block Burnham again.

The remaining challenge is whether Burnham can win the seat. At the general election two years ago, Reform UK took second place with just under a third of the vote. But in last week's local elections, Reform won all 11 wards in Makerfield and captured about half the vote in the constituency. Nigel Farage said his party "will throw absolutely everything at it".

Signs of a Labour truce have emerged ahead of the contest with Reform. Simons, who is standing down, aligns with the party's right wing. He is a close ally of Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, whose immigration reforms have drawn fire from the Labour left. Simons also ran the think tank Labour Together, which backed Sir Keir's leadership bid.

Burnham's backers call him a "unity" candidate. They aim to press Sir Keir to set a departure timetable from Downing Street. Some Labour figures from various factions say privately they would back Burnham for leader if he wins the by-election.

One minister said: "I think Josh [Simons] has just single-handedly given the Labour Party a route to winning back the trust of the British people." Asked if they supported Burnham as leader, the minister replied: "If he wins [the by-election] we all are."

Another minister, who backed Sir Keir as recently as Wednesday, said: "It's Burnham now, if he can beat Reform."

A right-wing MP called Simons's move "politically brave" and said it "allows us to settle the question of if Andy Burnham is the right person for prime minister once and for all."

Labour Deputy Leader Lucy Powell, a Burnham ally, will voice support on Friday. "Andy Burnham, Wes Streeting and Angela Rayner should all be key players in our team," she is expected to say. "Andy wants to come back to Parliament - I've always supported his desire to do so, and I support that again. As Deputy Leader, I am confident he would have the support of the vast majority of the Party and movement in doing so."

Not everyone agrees. Luke Akehurst, a right-wing Labour voice, said: "This level of internal game playing risks driving us into a General Election within months, as well as causing months of deep political instability that have real world consequences for the economy and national security. I am, to put it mildly, unimpressed."

Another party member called the actions of Simons and Burnham "disgraceful behaviour". "We are the Labour Party. We are not about one person or ego."

Government paralysis is the likely short-term result. Sir Keir insists he will not resign and has told allies he will contest any leadership challenge. A former party strategist said Burnham's only viable strategy might be to position himself to oust Sir Keir. If Sir Keir sets a departure date, as Burnham allies hope, he would run against the government's record, promising to fix mistakes and offer bolder policies.

The stakes point to Labour leadership and Number 10.