Makerfield by-election: Andy Burnham’s full statement as he plots return to Westminster
Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has announced he will seek permission from Labour’s NEC to stand in the Makerfield byelection with a view to returning to Parliament.
It follows Labor MP Josh Simons’ agreement to step aside and allow Mr Burnham to contest the seat and challenge Sir Keir Starmer.
The Prime Minister is facing growing calls to resign following last week’s damning local election results.
On Thursday, Health Minister Wes Streeting announced he was resigning from the Cabinet due to a loss of confidence in the Labor leader’s administration.
It comes after four junior ministers, including Conservation Minister Jess Phillips, resigned earlier this week.
Here is Mr. Burnham’s full statement:
“I can confirm that I will be seeking permission from the NEC to take part in the Makerfield by-election.
“I grew up in this region and have lived here for 25 years. I care very much about this place and its people. I know that national politics has disappointed them.
“Ten years ago I decided to leave Westminster. Why? Because after 16 years I have come to the conclusion that our national political system does not work in areas like ours. I learned this by failing to invest in Wigan borough, fighting for justice for Hillsborough families and fighting against the treatment of Greater Manchester during the pandemic.”
“For the last decade, I have been challenging this failure from the outside and building a new and better way of doing politics. We have made Greater Manchester the UK’s fastest-growing city region and brought buses back under public control, introducing a £2 fare cap to help people with cost-of-living pressures.
“However, there is so much that can be done from Greater Manchester. Much bigger change is needed at a national level if everyday life is to be made more affordable again. That’s why I’m now seeking people’s support to return to Parliament: to bring the change we brought to Greater Manchester to the whole of the UK and make politics work properly for people.”
“Millions of people are struggling and they need a Labor Government to succeed. It has already made changes in its first two years that will make life better for them. We owe it to people to come together again as a Labor movement after this week, giving the Prime Minister and Government the space and stability they need as by-elections take place.
“I want to recognize the difficult decision Josh Simons has made and the sacrifice he and his family have made. I worked closely with him as Mayor on issues such as flooding and illegal dumping and have seen first-hand how effective he is. “Makerfield has put its communities first, made a real difference to them and should be hugely proud of that.
“Finally, I don’t take even a single vote for granted and will work hard to regain the trust of people in the Makerfield constituency, many of whom have long supported our party but have lost faith in recent times. We will change Labor for the better and make it a party you can believe in again.”
