Burnham Cleared for By-Election, Targets Starmer's Leadership

Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, has been given the green light to seek selection as Labour's candidate in the Makerfield by-election, according to the BBC. This decision by Labour's ruling National Executive Committee reverses their previous block in January, paving the way for Burnham's potential return to Westminster and a direct challenge to Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

The Makerfield seat became vacant after Labour MP Josh Simons resigned specifically to create this opportunity for Burnham. This comes amidst a turbulent week for the Labour Party, with nearly 90 Labour MPs urging Starmer to step down following disastrous election results, and five ministers having already resigned, as reported by the BBC.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer remains defiant, resisting calls for his departure. However, Burnham has made his intentions clear, stating he wants to "bring the change we have brought to Greater Manchester to the whole of the UK and make politics work properly for people." Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch highlighted the audacity of the move, noting: "Andy Burnham wants to rock up and just be prime minister despite being out of Parliament for a decade."

This by-election is not just about a single seat; it's a proxy battle for the future of the Labour Party. While Makerfield has traditionally been a Labour stronghold, recent trends show a shift towards Reform UK, whose deputy leader Richard Tice has vowed to throw "everything possible" into securing a "seismic" win. This makes the contest far from a guaranteed victory for Burnham, despite his high profile.

Should Andy Burnham win in Makerfield, he will then be eligible to launch a formal leadership challenge against Keir Starmer, provided he can secure the backing of 81 Labour MPs. The by-election is expected on June 18th, setting a firm date for the next major test of Labour's internal power struggle.