Simons resigned the Makerfield seat on 14 May 2026 so Burnham could seek election to Parliament, which he needs to be eligible to stand in a Labour leadership contest.Source: PoliticsHome

Can Andy Burnham become Labour leader without a seat in Parliament?

No. Under Labour rules a candidate must be an MP to stand in a leadership contest. That is why the Makerfield by-election and NEC approval of his candidacy are the procedural prerequisites.Source: PoliticsHome

What is Andy Burnham's lead over Keir Starmer in Labour member polling?

Survation polling for LabourList shows Burnham leading Starmer 61 per cent to 39 per cent among Labour Party members.Source: LabourList / Survation

Background

Andy Burnham became the central figure in Labour's internal leadership crisis in May 2026 when Josh Simons resigned the Makerfield seat on 14 May to create a by-election vacancy for him. Burnham, not currently an MP, requires a parliamentary seat to stand in a Labour leadership contest. The NEC initially attracted controversy by voting 8-1 against his candidacy before Simons had formally submitted his resignation, but reversed course and approved Burnham's Makerfield candidacy on 15 May 2026, confirming the by-election for 18 June 2026.

Burnham previously served as MP for Leigh (2001-2017) and the NEC had blocked his candidacy for a parliamentary seat 8-1 the last time he sought one. The Makerfield approval marks a departure from that precedent. Survation polling for LabourList puts Burnham 61% to 39% against Starmer among Labour members, the strongest position of any potential challenger, while the PLP nose count stood at 159 for Starmer against 97 publicly for change with 147 silent.

Burnham won the Makerfield by-election on 18 June 2026 with 24,927 votes (54.8%) on turnout of 58.77%, a 9,231-vote majority over Reform UK's Rob Kenyon (34.5%); the Conservatives collapsed to fifth place on 2.2%, behind Restore Britain. He used his first major leadership-bid speech in Manchester on 29 June to pitch 'No. 10 North', a second prime ministerial base outside London, declaring 'Westminster is broken'.

On 7 July he told Scottish Labour MPs he will not grant a Section 30 order for a Scottish independence referendum, offering enhanced devolution instead and hardening the line Downing Street took after Holyrood's May vote. With Starmer's resignation as Labour leader and prime minister on 22 June and only Burnham a serious contender, the NEC's nomination timetable points to a 17 July coronation rather than a members' ballot running to 29 August.

Andy Burnham served as MP for Leigh from 2001 to 2017 and held Cabinet posts under Blair and Brown, including Health Secretary (2009-2010). He ran for Labour leader in 2010 and 2015, losing both times before leaving Parliament to become Greater Manchester Mayor in 2017. His tenure as Mayor gave him a sustained platform on transport, housing, policing, and the post-Covid regional economy.