Wes Streeting has officially endorsed Andy Burnham to return to Westminster, saying the Greater Manchester Mayor is the party’s best option for the Makerfield by-election. This endorsement follows a week of internal turmoil after the Labour Party suffered heavy losses in the local elections held on May 1, 2026. The move aligns two prominent figures who have recently distanced themselves from Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s leadership.
Josh Simons recently resigned his seat in Makerfield to allow Burnham a path back into national politics. Streeting, who resigned from the cabinet earlier this week according to the Irish Times, said on X that Labour needs its best players on the pitch to win. He argued that the need for a victory should override factional advantages or the desire to support one person.
While Starmer’s allies previously blocked Burnham from running in the Gorton and Denton by-election, Financial Times reports indicate they will not interfere this time. This change in strategy comes as Nigel Farage and the Reform UK party saw significant gains in the Makerfield area during recent local polling. Reform UK won several local wards in the constituency by nearly 30 points on May 1, posing a direct threat to Labour’s hold on the seat.
Burnham has spent ten years away from Parliament, serving as mayor since 2017. His potential Westminster return follows months of speculation about a leadership challenge. Under current Labour rules, any individual seeking to lead the party must hold a seat in the House of Commons. Farage has stated his party will focus heavily on defeating the Labour candidate in the upcoming vote.