May 14, 2026, 7:11 p.mMay 14, 2026, 7:11 p.m
A British MP is resigning from his seat to pave the way for the favorite to succeed ailing Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The previous mayor of Manchester, Andy Burnham, is the right person to initiate the necessary reforms in the country, wrote the Labor MP for Makerfield, Josh Simons, in the short message service
Andy Burnham.Image: keystone
Andy Burnham wants to take the plunge into parliament
Burnham, who is considered the most promising possible challenger to Labor leader and Prime Minister Keir Starmer, had already attempted to run for a mandate at the beginning of the year. But the party’s executive committee, of which Starmer is a member, had blocked his path.
Burnham said he would now apply again for a Labor candidacy. He did not comment on the question of whether he wanted to challenge the Prime Minister. Instead, he called for unity. “We owe it to the people to come together again as a Labor movement and give the Prime Minister and government the stability they need as the by-election takes place.”
Right-wing populists performed strongly in Makersfield
The long-struggling head of government has come under further pressure since Burnham’s first attempt to enter parliament. The affair surrounding the appointment of Labor veteran and former Epstein confidant Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the USA as well as disastrous results in local and regional elections last week put Starmer in serious trouble. Most recently, Health Minister Wes Streeting resigned, but without challenging the party leader.
Whether Burnham will make it into parliament is not a foregone conclusion. In Makerfield, the right-wing populist Reform UK party led by Brexit supporter Nigel Farage also performed strongly in the last election in 2024. Since then, it has overtaken Labor in the polls across the country. (hkl/sda/dpa)