Burnham challenges Starmer: Labour leadership race begins
Makerfield by-election will be Burnham's test case as future leader
The real battle to replace Keir Starmer as Labour Party leader and British premier is about to begin. The party's executive committee has approved Andy Burnham's decision to step down from the role as mayor of Manchester he has held for almost ten years to run for the Makerfield constituency in the north-east of England.
The Committee's green light, which in January had blocked an initial attempt by Burnham to return to Parliament, clears the way for what is considered Starmer's most formidable rival. In fact, Burnham, a former minister turned beloved former mayor of Manchester, is considered the most popular politician in Britain. The rules, however, state that only an MP with a Westminster seat can run for the party leadership.
The Labour MP elected in Makerfield in the 2024 elections, Josh Simons, has decided to give up his seat in Parliament in favour of Burnham and will campaign for him. However, this is not a coronation: the would-be leader will have to be duly elected by the citizens of Makerfield. Next Thursday the list of candidates will be announced and the by-elections will probably be held on 18 June.
Until a few days ago winning in Makerfield, a constituency that has faithfully voted Labour since 1906, would have seemed like child's play. Now, however, Burnham will find himself fighting a tougher battle than expected. In last week's local elections in England, the Labour party obtained only 22.7% of the vote, while Reform, the populist and anti-immigration party founded by Nigel Farage, won with 50.4% of the vote.
The by-election will therefore be a real test for Burnham, who will have to prove that he really is the 'King of the North', as his supporters call him, capable of winning over voters who have abandoned Labour by the thousands because they are unhappy with the government. On the one hand, the Mayor of Manchester is very popular in the area because he has revitalised the city and is considered a champion of the North of England often ignored by London. On the other Makerfield had voted Brexit in the 2016 referendum and remains hostile to the EU, while Burnham is famously pro-European.
