Andy Burnham Says UK Net Migration Needs to Fall Further

Andy Burnham said UK net migration needs to fall further after new government figures showed it had almost halved since 2024. The Labour candidate for Makerfield said residents have raised concerns about immigration with him during the campaign. He added that the latest figures show the trend is down and that the figure was at its lowest level since 2012, excluding the Covid pandemic.

Burnham, the current Greater Manchester mayor, said the government must get the balance right on its plans to make it harder for migrants to settle permanently in the UK. He said he supports the broad thrust of what Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is proposing.

Mahmood has argued the planned changes are fair and required to avoid a drain on public finances. Burnham highlighted the consultation on the home secretary's plans and said the broad thrust of what she is doing is right. Settlement, also known as indefinite leave to remain, gives a person the right to live, work and study in the UK for as long as they like and apply for benefits if they are eligible.

6m people could settle between 2026 and 2030 if no changes are made.

Burnham is seeking a return to Westminster by contesting the by-election in the Greater Manchester constituency. He is widely expected to challenge Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer for the Labour leadership, should he become an MP. Speaking at his campaign launch on Friday, Burnham said a vote for him is a vote to change Labour and ensure voters get the party back they used to know.

Sir Keir has faced intense speculation about his future following Labour's poor election results earlier this month. Reform UK candidate Robert Kenyon said Makerfield is not a stepping stone for him. He made the remark on X as he posted video of him driving in his van with Reform leader Nigel Farage.

Kenyon told Farage that Labour has taken voters in the area for granted, adding the safe seats are massively under threat. On Friday, the Liberal Democrats said councillor Jake Austin has been selected as its candidate.