Andy Burnham has publicly confirmed for the first time that he will enter a Labour leadership contest if he wins the crucial Makerfield by-election later this month, in a move that will intensify pressure on Sir Keir Starmer’s embattled premiership.
The Greater Manchester Mayor made the announcement during a special edition of the BBC’s Question Time, saying he would seek to join any contest for Labour’s top job if elected to Parliament on June 18.
While Burnham has long been regarded as a potential successor to Sir Keir Starmer, the comments represent the clearest indication yet that he is prepared to make a direct bid for Downing Street.
His intervention comes against the backdrop of Labour’s deepest internal crisis since taking power in 2024.
The Prime Minister has faced mounting calls to step aside following the disastrous local elections, which saw Labour lose more than 1,000 councillors and surrender control of the Welsh Senedd. Sir Keir’s personal ratings have also slumped, with recent polling placing his net approval rating at minus 44 and Labour trailing Reform UK nationally.
The scale of unrest inside Labour has been unprecedented. According to LabourList’s running tally, close to 100 Labour MPs have either called on Sir Keir to resign or demanded a timetable for his departure.
Among the most high-profile critics has been former Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who resigned from the Cabinet in the aftermath of Labour’s election losses and urged Sir Keir to stand down. Mr Streeting has since confirmed he would contest any future leadership election, setting the stage for a potentially bruising battle over the party’s future direction.
Burnham’s route back to Westminster depends entirely on victory in Makerfield, where voters go to the polls on June 18 following the resignation of Labour MP Josh Simons. The constituency has become one of the most closely watched political battlegrounds in Britain, with Reform UK hoping to capitalise on Labour’s collapse in support across parts of its traditional heartlands.
The challenge facing Burnham is significant. Reform won more than half the vote in local elections across the area earlier this year and some polling has suggested the contest is far tighter than Labour would normally expect in one of its former strongholds.
Nevertheless, Burnham remains the favourite of many Labour members should a leadership election take place. A YouGov survey of party members published last month found he was the most popular potential successor to Sir Keir among the party’s grassroots.
Speaking on Question Time, Burnham stressed that any leadership ambitions remain contingent on winning Makerfield first.
He said:
“I’m not somebody who gets ahead of myself. I can’t do anything unless I’m lucky enough to get the support of people here. But if I get your support, I would seek to represent you at the highest possible level and give this constituency maximum power and influence.”
Referring to speculation surrounding a future leadership contest, he added:
“I think Wes Streeting seems to have launched a leadership contest, so if that is running, I would seek to join it.”
Under Labour Party rules, a challenger requires the support of 20 per cent of Labour MPs to force a leadership contest if the incumbent refuses to resign.
For now, Burnham’s immediate political future rests on a single by-election. But his decision to publicly declare his intentions means the race to succeed Sir Keir Starmer is no longer a matter of speculation. It has begun.
Main Image: For illustration purposes only.
