Josh Simons
Former Labour MP for Makerfield who resigned his seat 14 May 2026 to clear a path for Andy Burnham.
Last refreshed: 14 May 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Why would a sitting MP give up his seat for someone who may not even be allowed to stand?
Timeline for Josh Simons
Mentioned in: Labour NEC clears Burnham for Makerfield run
UK Local Elections 2026Resigned Makerfield parliamentary seat to create vacancy for Burnham
UK Local Elections 2026: Josh Simons quits Makerfield for BurnhamWhy did Josh Simons resign his parliamentary seat?
Who is Josh Simons and what did he do before becoming an MP?
Background
Josh Simons resigned the Makerfield constituency seat on 14 May 2026, issuing a statement that said he was "standing aside so that Andy Burnham can return to his home, fight to re-enter Parliament." The resignation was a deliberate and publicly-stated act of self-sacrifice: Makerfield was won by Simons in 2024 and he vacates a SAFE seat to create a by-election vacancy.
Simons entered Parliament in 2024 as part of the Labour landslide. He was previously director of Labour Together, the policy research organisation that advised on Labour's 2024 general election strategy. His profile was that of a think-tank insider rather than a career politician; Makerfield, a solidly Labour seat in Greater Manchester, was his first elected office.
The procedural consequence of his resignation is that the seat returns to a by-election. Whether Burnham actually contests it depends on the NEC (National Executive Committee) approving his candidacy — the NEC previously blocked Burnham 8-1. Simons's departure creates the opportunity; the NEC's decision determines whether it becomes the vehicle for a leadership challenge.