Andy Burnham has announced his intention to stand in a by-election in Makerfield after Josh Simons, the Labour MP and former Cabinet Office minister, stood down to clear his path back to Westminster.

The Mayor of Greater Manchester is by far the most popular Labour politician and would be confident of success in a leadership contest against Sir Keir Starmer. But first he has to be allowed to fight the seat – which is in his own backyard – by the party’s National Executive Committee, and then beat Reform, which won the Makerfield wards in last week’s local elections.

Camilla Tominey and Tim Stanley assess the chances of Burnham securing the nomination for and then winning Makerfield, as well as the role that Ed Miliband has played and where it leaves Wes Streeting after his resignation as health secretary on Thursday.

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Editor: Camilla Tominey

Highlights

• Andy Burnham announces his intention to stand in Makerfield
• How confident should he be of beating Reform?

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