Andy Burnham will push to become PM before Labour conference, allies say

"Andy Burnham will push to become prime minister in time to address Labour's autumn party conference in Liverpool, his supporters have said. The Greater Manchester mayor cleared his first hurdle to becoming the candidate in the Makerfield byelection on Friday as Labour's ruling body gave him permission to stand for the seat. If confirmed as Labour's choice, he will need to win a difficult byelection in the Greater Manchester seat in mid to late June, with support for Reform UK having surged in the area at the local elections."

"With the byelection most likely to take place on 18 June, some of Burnham's supporters believe he has a path to becoming prime minister before parliament breaks for the summer recess, but sources close the mayor's campaign believe his preference is a longer timeline. What could happen next in Labour leadership challenge? The prize for Burnham winning a leadership contest in the summer would be a victorious homecoming and what one supporter described as a natural moment for a transfer of power in the north-west city."

"Another source close to the mayor said he did not want to get ahead of himself and was concentrating on the byelection fight ahead. Burnham's route back to parliament was opened up by the resignation of his ally Josh Simons on Thursday, after other contenders to replace Keir Starmer backed away from triggering a contest against the prime minister this week."

"Lucy Powell, Labour's deputy leader, who will be the political lead for the party in the byelection, told the Guardian she expected the byelection to really galvanise people from right across the party and we'll absolutely be throwing everything at it. She added: Should he be our candidate, Andy's story, Andy's narrative, Andy's connection to the place will absolutely be at the forefront of it all. He is very much what keeps a seat like that in play for us. She described it as a straight fight between us and Reform and exactly the sort of seat a community and a place that perhaps"

Andy Burnham is seeking to become Labour’s candidate for the Makerfield byelection after Greater Manchester’s mayor received permission from Labour’s ruling body. If selected, he would need to win a difficult byelection in mid to late June, with Reform UK support having surged in the area at recent local elections. The byelection is most likely on 18 June. Some supporters believe this could create a path to prime minister before summer recess, while campaign sources suggest a longer timeline. Burnham’s route back to parliament was enabled by the resignation of ally Josh Simons, after other contenders declined to trigger a leadership contest. Lucy Powell expects the byelection to galvanise party support and says Burnham’s connection to the place would be central, framing it as a direct contest with Reform.

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