politics
Josh Simons Resigns as Makerfield MP
Outgoing Labour MP Josh Simons announced he is stepping aside for Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to contest the Makerfield by-election, the earliest date for which is 18 June. Reform UK, which swept local council elections in the area and took roughly 50 percent of the vote, has pledged to throw everything at the contest.
May 15, 7:18 AM·3m read2 sources
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Josh Simons, the current MP for Makerfield, announced he is standing down to allow Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham the chance to run for Parliament. Simons said he will stand down to give Burnham the opportunity, telling the BBC he was confident Burnham could win the seat but admitted there was a "really tough fight" on his hands.
The Makerfield constituency is home to around 76,000 voters in the suburbs of Wigan and nearby former mining towns and villages.
It has been a safe Labour seat since it was created in 1983. 2 percent of the vote and a majority of 5,399. 8 percent, with the Conservatives third, Lib Dems fourth and Greens fifth.
Reform UK swept the board in local council elections in Makerfield, pulling in roughly 50 percent of the vote share while Labour received roughly 27 percent. The Greens took roughly 10 percent, Conservatives 7 percent and Lib Dems 4 percent. Reform gained 24 seats on Wigan Council, including in two wards in Ashton-in-Makerfield.
7 percent to win it. Burnham was elected MP for the Leigh constituency four times before becoming Greater Manchester mayor in 2017. He was re-elected for a second term as Greater Manchester mayor in May 2021.
4 percent of the vote, receiving 66 percent of the vote in Wigan. Burnham does not have to stand down as mayor to stand in the by-election and will only resign from that position if he wins and becomes an MP. The earliest a by-election in Makerfield could be held is Thursday, 18 June.
Sir Keir Starmer is due to be at a G7 summit in France during the week of 18 June. Andy Burnham will need to be chosen as Labour's candidate by officers on the party's National Executive Committee. The NEC previously blocked Burnham from standing in the Gorton and Denton by-election in February.
