"Wes Streeting resigned as health secretary saying he had lost confidence in Sir Keir Starmer's leadership. Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor, said he would seek permission to run for Labour in Makerfield after Labour MP Josh Simons said he would resign to make way for him. It came after Streeting resigned calling for a broad debate in the party about what comes next, but he did not say he would run for the Labour leadership."
"Any candidate in a Labour leadership contest to replace Sir Keir must be an MP, with current Makerfield MP Josh Simons announcing on Thursday he would stand down as he believes Burnham can "drive the change our country is crying out for". Burnham said he would seek people's support to return to Parliament in order to "bring the change we have brought to Greater Manchester to the whole of the UK and make politics work properly for people"."
"He added he would "not take a single vote for granted and will work hard to regain the trust of people" in the north-west constituency, which Labour held in 2024 with a majority of 5,399 votes over Reform UK. Reform leader Nigel Farage said the party looked forward to the contest and would "throw absolutely everything at it", with Reform having given Labour a drubbing at recent council elections in the area."
"Burnham was previously blocked by Labour's ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) from contesting the Gorton and Denton by-election in February, which Labour lost to the Green Party. The BBC understands Sir Keir will not seek to block Burnham from becom"
Wes Streeting resigned as health secretary, citing lost confidence in Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership, and called for a broad debate about what comes next without indicating a leadership bid. Speculation followed after Labour’s poor election results, but no leadership challenge was triggered. Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham said he would seek permission to run for Labour in Makerfield after MP Josh Simons announced he would stand down to make way for him. Burnham said he wants to return to Parliament to extend Greater Manchester’s change to the UK and to regain public trust. Reform leader Nigel Farage said Reform would intensify efforts in the contest. Burnham previously faced a Labour NEC block from contesting a by-election, which Labour lost to the Green Party, and Sir Keir is understood not to block Burnham.
Read at www.bbc.com
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