Burnham officially confirmed as Labour candidate for Makerfield by-election
The Greater Manchester Mayor has been selected to contest the seat following Josh Simons' resignation, with Reform UK, the Monster Raving Loony Party and Restore Britain also fielding candidates.
The Labour Party has officially confirmed Andy Burnham as its candidate to stand in the Makerfield by-election.
The poll was triggered by the resignation of Labour MP Josh Simons, who stepped down to allow Burnham an opportunity to contest the seat, paving the way for a potential leadership challenge.
Burnham, who has served as Mayor of Greater Manchester since 2017, has called on Labour to acknowledge that "the party has not been good enough."
Who else is standing?
Three other candidates have been confirmed for the by-election:
Alan "Howlin" Laud Hope (The Official Monster Raving Loony Party) Robert Kenyon (Reform UK) Rebecca Shepherd (Restore Britain)
The by-election is expected to take place on Thursday, June 18, as previously reported.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why is there a by-election in Makerfield?
- The by-election was triggered after the sitting Labour MP, Josh Simons, resigned from his seat to allow Andy Burnham the opportunity to stand for parliament.
- Who is running in the Makerfield by-election?
- Confirmed candidates currently include Andy Burnham (Labour), Alan "Howlin" Laud Hope (Monster Raving Loony Party), Robert Kenyon (Reform UK), and Rebecca Shepherd (Restore Britain).
- Will Andy Burnham remain Mayor of Greater Manchester?
- It is not yet officially confirmed how his mayoral duties will be handled if he wins the parliamentary seat, though his return to Westminster is viewed as a potential step toward a national leadership role.