MP stands down to set unsteady Burnham train in motion

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The biggest news yesterday looked like it would be Wes Streeting’s resignation as health secretary. Then Josh Simons, the MP for Makerfield, said he would step aside to allow Andy Burnham to run for his seat. If Burnham wins it, he will have a clean run to try to dethrone Starmer. But it is not a foregone conclusion. Burnham is unlikely to be blocked from being Labour’s candidate and if he becomes an MP he would be expected to gather the signatures needed to challenge Starmer and then the party member votes necessary to beat him. The hard part is the byelection to get to that point. Labour holds a majority of more than 5,000 in Makerfield, but achieved this in 2024. In last week’s local elections, Reform won 50.4% of the vote across the eight wards in the constituency up for grabs. Labour got 22.7%.