Burnham signals he would enter Labour leadership race against Starmer if he wins Makerfield by-election

The Makerfield trigger

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham used a BBC Question Time debate in Makerfield to signal his intention to challenge Keir Starmer for the Labour leadership, the first time he has confirmed the ambition directly. Burnham said that if he wins the 18 June by-election, he would "seek to represent you at the highest possible level." The seat became vacant after former Labour MP Josh Simons stepped down, a move Simons said was designed to allow Burnham to enter parliament and potentially mount a leadership bid.

I can't do anything unless I'm lucky enough to get the support of people here. But if I get your support, I would seek to represent you at the highest possible level and give this constituency maximum power and influence.

A two-front contest

Burnham is fighting a campaign on two fronts: against Reform UK candidate Robert Kenyon in Makerfield, and against Starmer's embattled leadership nationally. Kenyon, a plumber and local councillor, criticised Burnham's record as mayor, saying Manchester "thrives" while Wigan struggles. Labour's press team has separately attacked Kenyon over social media posts, including alleged comments about Covid and a report that he said Russia was "within their rights" to take Crimea. Burnham spent between £1,000 and £1,500 on Meta ads promoting positive local testimonials, while the central party machine focused on attacking Reform.

We need to get normal people in politics, people who care about the place, people who live in the place and people who want to stay here and not use it as a stepping stone for other things.

The leadership arithmetic

Any challenger must be an MP and secure the backing of 81 Labour MPs to trigger a contest. Burnham acknowledged he would need to "persuade members of the Parliamentary Labour Party to do the same." Former health secretary Wes Streeting, who resigned last month in protest at Starmer's record, has confirmed he would enter any contest and has encouraged people to back Burnham in Makerfield, saying he wants a "proper contest with the best candidates on the field." Starmer has said he will not "walk away" from Downing Street despite poor local election results and ministerial resignations.

I think Wes Streeting seems to have launched a leadership contest, so if that is running I would seek to join it.

Burnham's policy prospectus

In a Guardian interview, Burnham began outlining priorities for government. He said he would overhaul England's social care system this year if he became prime minister, calling for the Casey review — tasked with drawing up funding proposals — to be published by the end of 2026 rather than 2028. He previously proposed replacing inheritance tax with a progressive "care levy" to fund a national care service. Burnham also said Labour should be a "broad church" with more ministers from the left, that Jeremy Corbyn should not be readmitted, that there would be no snap election if he replaced Starmer, and that he wanted the UK to rejoin the EU in his lifetime but would not rerun the Brexit referendum.

It is urgent, the need to fix social care, and I personally would look at all of the kind of implications of that in relation to inheritance tax and care charges and everything. I wouldn't flinch from it.

What comes next

The by-election on 18 June is the immediate gate. Burnham must first hold the Labour seat against Reform UK before any leadership manoeuvre becomes possible. Starmer's popularity ratings are among the lowest for a British leader, and the governing party is trailing in opinion polls, but no formal challenge has yet been launched. The race in Makerfield will determine whether Burnham secures the parliamentary platform he needs to convert ambition into a formal bid.