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3d ago

Labour NEC Clears Burnham for Makerfield Run, Opening Path to Commons Return

Financial markets signaled concern over the prospect of a Labour leadership fight.

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Downing Street incumbents, clockwise from top left: Gordon and Sarah Brown (2 years, 318 days), Boris and Carrie Johnson (3 years, 44 days), David and Samantha Cameron (6 years, 63 days), Sir Keir and Lady Starmer (1 year, 315 days), Rishi Sunak (1 year, 255 days), Theresa and Philip May (3 years, 11 days), Liz Truss and Hugh O’Leary (49 days). But where’s Larry?
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Natasha Harvey backs Andy Burnham to win the Makersfield by-election and says locals often come across the Greater Manchester Mayor locally (Photo: The i Paper; PA)

Overview

  • Andy Burnham was cleared by Labour’s National Executive Committee on Friday to seek selection in Makerfield after MP Josh Simons said he would stand down.
  • A mid-June vote is expected, with June 18 widely reported as the likeliest date, though the by-election cannot be set until Parliament moves the writ.
  • Recent local results turned Makerfield into a live contest as Reform UK won every ward in the constituency and Labour’s 5,399 general-election majority now looks vulnerable.
  • Government bond yields jumped to multi-decade highs and the pound slipped as investors priced in political uncertainty and the risk of higher borrowing, raising the cost of state debt.
  • A Burnham win would force him to vacate the Greater Manchester mayoralty and any leadership bid would still need 81 Labour MPs to nominate him under party rules.