Andy Burnham to Stand for Parliament in Makerfield By-Election
The Mayor of Greater Manchester has announced his intention to run in the upcoming by-election for the Makerfield seat after a local MP agreed to step down. The constituency was held by Labour with a narrow majority in the 2024 general election, but recent local election results showed strong gains for Reform UK.
The IndependentSenior Labour sources have indicated that the committee will not block the candidacy this time. The remaining obstacle is winning the by-election against a Reform UK candidate in a seat that has been held by Labour since its creation in 1983.
At the 2024 general election the seat was won with a majority of 5,399 votes over Reform UK. Local elections held this month showed Reform UK winning every council ward in the constituency with around half the vote, while Labour received little more than a quarter. By comparison, the current prime minister stands at 19 per cent and the health secretary at 12 per cent.
The Green Party achieved the second-highest vote share in the recent local elections in the area and secured a victory in the Gorton and Denton by-election earlier this year with 41 per cent of the vote. The party has stated that it is searching for a candidate in Makerfield.
He added that the Makerfield contest is one of the tightest between Labour and Reform UK and would be tougher to win than Gorton and Denton.
The Makerfield by-election alone could cost the taxpayer up to £226,000, the maximum amount claimable from the Treasury. The 2024 Greater Manchester mayoral election cost £4.7 million. Speaking to BBC Manchester, Mr Simons described the upcoming contest as a really tough fight and said he did not know the result.
He added that sometimes in history when people take risks without knowing if they will win, that is what changes the story.
Key Facts
Story Timeline
4 events- 2026-05-15
Josh Simons announces he will quit Parliament to allow the Mayor of Greater Manchester to run in Makerfield by-election.
1 sourceThe Independent - 2024
Labour wins Makerfield seat with majority of 5,399 votes over Reform UK.
1 sourceThe Independent - May 2026
Reform UK wins every council ward in Makerfield with around half the vote in local elections.
1 sourceThe Independent - Earlier in 2026
Green Party wins Gorton and Denton by-election with 41 per cent of the vote.
1 sourceThe Independent
Potential Impact
- 01
Taxpayers face combined costs potentially exceeding £5 million if both the parliamentary and mayoral by-elections occur.
- 02
The by-election will test current national polling trends between Labour and Reform UK in a northern English constituency.
- 03
A win by the mayor would require a second by-election for the Greater Manchester mayoral post costing millions of pounds.
- 04
Green Party participation could split the progressive vote in a seat Labour has held continuously since 1983.
Transparency Panel
Related Stories
BBC NewsTrump Meets Advisers to Decide on Iran Ceasefire Extension
President Trump said he is holding a Situation Room meeting to make a final decision on a possible deal with Iran. The proposed agreement would extend the ceasefire by 60 days and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
middleeasteye.netTrump to Decide on Iran Deal in Situation Room Meeting
President Trump said Friday he is heading into the Situation Room to make a final determination on a potential agreement with Iran. The proposed deal would reopen the Strait of Hormuz without tolls and require destruction of Iran's highly-enriched uranium.
benzinga.comVietnam Clears Graves for Trump Organization Project in Hung Yen Province
Farmers in Hung Yen province are exhuming family graves to make way for a $1.5 billion Trump Organization development that includes hotels, villas and a golf course. The project, approved last year, has drawn local resistance over compensation levels and relocation of remains.