Andy Burnham has confirmed he will request permission from Labour’s National Executive Committee to stand in a by-election triggered by a Labour MP standing down.
Labour’s Josh Simons will stand down as an MP to allow Burnham to run. Simons is the MP for Makerfield in Greater Manchester, the city where Andy Burnham is mayor.
It puts more pressure on Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership of the party after Wes Streeting resigned from government.
The health secretary told the prime minister that "where we need vision, we have a vacuum" in his resignation letter.
He has not launched a leadership challenge against Starmer, but told the PM "it is clear that you will not lead the Labour Party into the next general election."
Earlier, Angela Rayner settled her unpaid tax bill, paving the way for her to stand in any race.
Live updates ➡️ https://news.sky.com/story/politics-latest-local-elections-england-scotland-wales-2026-starmer-12593360
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