Starmer to help campaign for Andy Burnham at Makerfield by-election amid leadership challenge bid

Sir Keir Starmer has said he will campaign for potential leadership rival Andy Burnham in the Makerfield by-election.

The Prime Minister said he wanted the “whole Labor movement” to be involved in the crucial by-election campaign on June 18, when the mayor of Greater Manchester will vie to return to Westminster.

Starmer also sought to draw attention to his Government’s record and distract from “all the other ongoing controversies”, in an apparent reference to the leadership speculation that has dogged his premiership since Labour’s defeat in local and devolved elections.

Asked if he would be campaigning at Makerfield for leadership hopeful Andy Burnham, the Prime Minister told reporters on a visit to Essex: “Yes, and I’ve said to the whole Labor movement that I want everyone to get involved in the campaign, whatever the other debates are, it’s really important, it’s a direct fight between Labor and Reform.

“This is about the values ​​we bring to politics and it’s really important that we all come together and fight the by-election, just as we will.”

He added: “I want to be a part of it, of course I do, and I want everyone to be a part of it, but also to be clear about the steps we are taking to stabilize the economy, because all these things that we have announced today were only possible because of the steps we took on the budget, the reduction of inflation was possible because of the decisions taken by the Government – which did not fall from the sky – thanks to these steps.

“So we have a great story to tell.”

Sir Keir also mentioned recent good news when asked if he was disappointed that Labor MPs were focusing on Mr Burnham and former health secretary Wes Streeting’s ambitions to bring him down.

He said: “A lot has happened in the last two weeks, but the important thing for me is that actually the last week has been really important in terms of what we’ve delivered.”

He pointed to the latest figures showing the UK’s real gross domestic product rose 0.6 per cent in the first quarter from January to March, NHS waiting lists fell and net migration in the UK fell to its lowest level since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

A spokesman for Mr Burnham said: “Anyone who wants to embrace Andy’s campaign message can join the campaign.”

Sir Keir visited a children’s activity center in Essex on Thursday after his government made a series of announcements on the cost of living and empowering local communities.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ announcements included a temporary reduction in the rate of VAT on summer leisure from 20 per cent to 5 per cent, a £350 million critical chemicals resilience fund and a £120 million fund to help the ceramics industry, and cutting import tariffs on more than 100 types of food products.

The “Great British Summer Savings” scheme also includes free bus travel for children in England during the August school holidays.

Mr Burnham’s allies have suggested he may not immediately bid for the senior position if he returns to Westminster.

Labor deputy leader Lucy Powell, who backed his previous failed bid to stand in a by-election in Gorton and Denton, told LBC she “didn’t expect Andy to turn up to do this”.

But a contest is expected to take place following Mr Burnham’s call for a “new way” and promise to “change the Labor Party”.

This expectation has led to speculation about what policies the mayor will pursue in Downing Street; This includes reports that Home Affairs Minister Shabana Mahmood may go ahead with a plan to significantly extend the time migrants must wait to obtain permanent residence.

Mr Burnham’s team did not comment on the reports. Guard He said he would support the proposal to increase the waiting period on indefinite leave from 5 years to between 10 and 20 years.

Meanwhile, campaigning will continue in Makerfield, where Mr Burnham will face Reform England’s Robert Kenyon, who is running for the seat in 2024, and Conservative Michael Winstanley, who was last in the constituency in 1997.

The Green Party announced nurse Chris Kennedy as its candidate on Thursday. While Mr Kennedy vowed to “fight for warmer homes, lower bills and a fairer economy”, he said “we cannot allow this election to be dominated by Westminster psychodrama”.

The Liberal Democrats have not yet announced their candidates.