Labour Member of Parliament Josh Simons plans to step down from his seat representing Makerfield in Greater Manchester, according to a Bloomberg report citing a person familiar with the matter. His expected resignation would force a by-election in the constituency.
The prospective vacancy has immediate political implications because it could allow Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, to contest a House of Commons seat. Winning a Commons seat is a formal requirement for anyone seeking the leadership of the Labour Party in Parliament, and the by-election would therefore provide Burnham with a potential route back into national politics.
The move also raises the political stakes for Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Observers within the party see the situation as creating the conditions for a possible leadership challenge. Public polling cited in the report shows Burnham with a net positive approval rating among voters, based on YouGov data, and he remains the preferred candidate for many on the left wing of the Labour Party.
Burnham’s path to Parliament is not guaranteed. Earlier this year, allies of Starmer on Labour’s governing body prevented Burnham from contesting a different vacant Manchester-area seat. At that time, the governing body said blocking his candidacy would avoid the expense of holding a separate election for the mayoral office he would have to vacate if he became an MP. The same internal party route could be used again to deny him a contest for Makerfield.
For now, the sequence of events depends on Simons following through with his planned resignation and on any subsequent decisions by Labour’s governing apparatus. The by-election, if triggered, would set a timetable for whether Burnham can pursue a Commons seat and, by extension, whether he could present himself as a contender for party leadership.
Key points
- Josh Simons plans to resign his Makerfield seat, triggering a by-election in Greater Manchester.
- The by-election could offer Mayor Andy Burnham a platform to secure a House of Commons seat, a prerequisite for Labour leadership candidates.
- The development heightens pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer, as Burnham has a net positive approval rating per YouGov and is favored by many on Labour’s left.
Risks and uncertainties
- Labour’s governing body previously blocked Burnham from contesting a Manchester-area vacancy; it may choose to do so again, which would prevent his candidacy.
- The plan hinges on Simons actually resigning and on the resulting by-election taking place; those procedural steps remain to be completed.