Simons resigns for Burnham candidacy
5 months ago
Makerfield MP Josh Simons resigned his seat to allow Andy Burnham to seek election there, a move complicated by Reform's surge and Labour NEC disputes over leadership rules.
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by Ben Worthy
A huge thank you to @joxley.jmoxley.co.uk for a great event talking devolution, whether there's still a British politics and Andy Burnham. Video to follow soon...
May 14, 2026 at 7:58 PM
A huge thank you to @joxley.jmoxley.co.uk for a great event talking devolution, whether there's still a British politics and Andy Burnham. Video to follow soon...
Some people are calling it the New York, New York leadership test.
Makerfield could be a smart calculated risk. Burnham is popular nationally and in Greater Manchester, voters would be sending a message for a change of leadership and also prospectively getting a PM as their MP… and it would allow Burnham to claim ‘only I can defeat Reform’.
May 14, 2026 at 7:45 PM
Some people are calling it the New York, New York leadership test.
So do I have this right? There are currently over 400 Labour MPs in the House of Commons, and none of them has what it takes to be Prime Minister - they have to wheel in Andy Burnham to save the day?
How do we select these people?
Jeez Louise !!!!!
😊
How do we select these people?
Jeez Louise !!!!!
😊
May 14, 2026 at 7:35 PM
So do I have this right? There are currently over 400 Labour MPs in the House of Commons, and none of them has what it takes to be Prime Minister - they have to wheel in Andy Burnham to save the day?
How do we select these people?
Jeez Louise !!!!!
😊
How do we select these people?
Jeez Louise !!!!!
😊
by Jo Littler
Andy Burnham standing is exciting. Like Sadiq Khan he's travelled from centre to left, has implemented actual progressive policies as Mayor, & has huge popular appeal.
Plus it's gratifying to witness the political wind changing today & so much of PLP becoming #SuddenlySocialist ..!
Plus it's gratifying to witness the political wind changing today & so much of PLP becoming #SuddenlySocialist ..!
May 14, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Andy Burnham standing is exciting. Like Sadiq Khan he's travelled from centre to left, has implemented actual progressive policies as Mayor, & has huge popular appeal.
Plus it's gratifying to witness the political wind changing today & so much of PLP becoming #SuddenlySocialist ..!
Plus it's gratifying to witness the political wind changing today & so much of PLP becoming #SuddenlySocialist ..!
by Pam Jarvis
So worse case, then.
Burnham loses to Reform.
Reform win the Manchester Mayor election.
The government become an international laughing stock, and go to an early election when the party splits asunder.
We get a hung government in which Reform has a significant influence.
Aaaaargh! 🤯 #UKPolitics
Burnham loses to Reform.
Reform win the Manchester Mayor election.
The government become an international laughing stock, and go to an early election when the party splits asunder.
We get a hung government in which Reform has a significant influence.
Aaaaargh! 🤯 #UKPolitics
May 14, 2026 at 6:42 PM
So worse case, then.
Burnham loses to Reform.
Reform win the Manchester Mayor election.
The government become an international laughing stock, and go to an early election when the party splits asunder.
We get a hung government in which Reform has a significant influence.
Aaaaargh! 🤯 #UKPolitics
Burnham loses to Reform.
Reform win the Manchester Mayor election.
The government become an international laughing stock, and go to an early election when the party splits asunder.
We get a hung government in which Reform has a significant influence.
Aaaaargh! 🤯 #UKPolitics
by Andrew Scott
Communication is key in 2026.
You need a PM who says, "This is who we are. This is what we're about, and this is where we're going."
Burnham is a great communicator, and this feels like the first step on a sensible path for those who want a Labour government to prosper.
You need a PM who says, "This is who we are. This is what we're about, and this is where we're going."
Burnham is a great communicator, and this feels like the first step on a sensible path for those who want a Labour government to prosper.
Josh Simons stepping down as MP for Makerfield for Andy Burnham. Quite a tricky parachute, that seat:
Wes Streeting resigns from government
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www.ft.com
May 14, 2026 at 6:36 PM
Communication is key in 2026.
You need a PM who says, "This is who we are. This is what we're about, and this is where we're going."
Burnham is a great communicator, and this feels like the first step on a sensible path for those who want a Labour government to prosper.
You need a PM who says, "This is who we are. This is what we're about, and this is where we're going."
Burnham is a great communicator, and this feels like the first step on a sensible path for those who want a Labour government to prosper.
Reposted by Jo Littler
🚨 NEW: Andy Burnham is now odds on to become the next Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
May 14, 2026 at 6:32 PM
🚨 NEW: Andy Burnham is now odds on to become the next Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Thanks. That sounds the most likely to me. Seems to be the legal position, so only potential barrier would be some Party rule. Much less of a gamble for Burnham if this is correct.
May 14, 2026 at 6:09 PM
Thanks. That sounds the most likely to me. Seems to be the legal position, so only potential barrier would be some Party rule. Much less of a gamble for Burnham if this is correct.
by Jane Green Reposted by David Burrows
Before everyone gets carried away, let’s say Burnham wins (likely), and becomes PM (likely), and there’s a Lab boost (likely, if temporary), Labour still desperately needs the Tory vote to split Reform’s.
May 14, 2026 at 6:02 PM
Before everyone gets carried away, let’s say Burnham wins (likely), and becomes PM (likely), and there’s a Lab boost (likely, if temporary), Labour still desperately needs the Tory vote to split Reform’s.
This makes little to no sense to me. Being the Prime Minister is as much about duty as being the mayor of Manchester and arguably more so. If Turnham can do a better job of running the country than Starmer has done then this will benefit Manchester too.
So Andy Burnham is putting his political ambitions before the people of Manchester who elected him as Mayor.
These people have no sense of duty, just ambition.
These people have no sense of duty, just ambition.
May 14, 2026 at 5:58 PM
This makes little to no sense to me. Being the Prime Minister is as much about duty as being the mayor of Manchester and arguably more so. If Turnham can do a better job of running the country than Starmer has done then this will benefit Manchester too.
Reposted by Tom Griffin
Lots of people fairly saying that Makerfield will be a tough seat for Burnham, but the upside is that if he beats Reform he’ll hammer home the point to MPs that he can defeat Farage.
May have a significant impact on any leadership contest
May have a significant impact on any leadership contest
May 14, 2026 at 5:55 PM
Lots of people fairly saying that Makerfield will be a tough seat for Burnham, but the upside is that if he beats Reform he’ll hammer home the point to MPs that he can defeat Farage.
May have a significant impact on any leadership contest
May have a significant impact on any leadership contest
Reposted by Tom Griffin
EXCLUSIVE
Sir Keir Starmer will not seek to block Andy Burnham from becoming the Labour candidate in Makerfield, the BBC understands.
An ally of Keir Starmer said: “Keir is focused on bringing the party together so it can tackle the issues facing working families.”
Sir Keir Starmer will not seek to block Andy Burnham from becoming the Labour candidate in Makerfield, the BBC understands.
An ally of Keir Starmer said: “Keir is focused on bringing the party together so it can tackle the issues facing working families.”
May 14, 2026 at 5:53 PM
EXCLUSIVE
Sir Keir Starmer will not seek to block Andy Burnham from becoming the Labour candidate in Makerfield, the BBC understands.
An ally of Keir Starmer said: “Keir is focused on bringing the party together so it can tackle the issues facing working families.”
Sir Keir Starmer will not seek to block Andy Burnham from becoming the Labour candidate in Makerfield, the BBC understands.
An ally of Keir Starmer said: “Keir is focused on bringing the party together so it can tackle the issues facing working families.”
Reposted by Holger Nehring, Maria Abreu, Steven H. Seggie
You’ll not read a better piece on Andy Burnham than this by @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social
www.ft.com/content/9dd4... Can Andy Burnham, Labour’s charismatic chameleon, reinvent himself again?
www.ft.com/content/9dd4... Can Andy Burnham, Labour’s charismatic chameleon, reinvent himself again?
Can Andy Burnham, Labour’s charismatic chameleon, reinvent himself again?
Greater Manchester mayor has earned public respect by going from insider to outsider, but economic doubts could undermine his bid for Downing Street
www.ft.com
May 14, 2026 at 5:51 PM
You’ll not read a better piece on Andy Burnham than this by @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social
www.ft.com/content/9dd4... Can Andy Burnham, Labour’s charismatic chameleon, reinvent himself again?
www.ft.com/content/9dd4... Can Andy Burnham, Labour’s charismatic chameleon, reinvent himself again?
Reposted by Will Jennings
Makerfield is part of/borders on Burnham's old home turf as a schoolboy, and later as MP for Leigh. So, he can pitch it as the "local lad". As well as a run for MP and potential PM, it will be a direct face-off with Reform in the old "Red Wall". If anyone can hold that seat, Burnham could do it.
May 14, 2026 at 5:51 PM
Makerfield is part of/borders on Burnham's old home turf as a schoolboy, and later as MP for Leigh. So, he can pitch it as the "local lad". As well as a run for MP and potential PM, it will be a direct face-off with Reform in the old "Red Wall". If anyone can hold that seat, Burnham could do it.
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www.politico.eu
May 14, 2026 at 5:48 PM
Key cabinet minister — and potential challenger — quits Starmer's government www.politico.eu/article/keir...
Reposted by Stephen Ryan
“Senior Labour party figures, including cabinet ministers, tell me the NEC is not expected to block Andy Burnham's selection a second time”
May 14, 2026 at 5:45 PM
“Senior Labour party figures, including cabinet ministers, tell me the NEC is not expected to block Andy Burnham's selection a second time”