Labour's Andy Burnham officially launches his Makerfield by-election campaign to revive ‘tired’ politics in ‘change’ by-election

The Labour mayor of Greater Manchester is seeking to win the Makerfield seat in a “change” by-election.

Allies of Mr Burnham have suggested he may not launch a bid for the party leadership immediately if he is successful in his attempt to return to Parliament in the June 18 contest.

But he is widely viewed as Sir Keir’s main rival for the top job if he wins the by-election.

Mr Burnham said: “This is not more of the same. This is a change by-election. Politics in this country, British politics, is tired.

“It needs a new script and over the next four weeks the people of Makerfield are going to write that script, and it’s great that they’re going to get that chance.”

Mr Burnham said he would want to commit to changing the electoral system in the next Labour manifesto.

He said: “I support electoral reform. Now, I know there’s different ways you can do it, but I believe any move in that direction is going to be good and I would want a commitment in the next Labour manifesto to introduce a proportional system.”

He ruled out changing the system before the next election, saying: “I think you’ve got to honour manifestos.”

Asked about new guidance on single sex spaces, Mr Burnham said: “I think the time has come to take the Supreme Court ruling and the guidance and implement it, but to do it in a way that protects those spaces but does not marginalise already marginalised communities, that’s my view.

“My mum and dad brought me up to live and let live. I think Britain needs to get back to a more ‘live and let live’ approach to life, not where we’re constantly arguing with each other, being judgmental about each other.

“Lets implement the guidance, but to do it in the fairest and most compassionate way possible.”

In an apparent criticism of Sir Keir’s leadership, Mr Burnham said: “I know my own party needs to change. We need to be better than we have been.

“A vote for me in this by-election is a vote to change Labour.”

He said the voters of Makerfield would get “the party back they used to know”.

Under Sir Keir, Labour suffered a devastating series of setbacks in elections in England, Wales and Scotland earlier in May, triggering a wave of speculation around his position.

Pollsters have signalled that having Mr Burnham running will significantly boost Labour’s chances of retaining the seat, but it could still prove a tough contest against Nigel Farage’s Reform UK.

Josh Simons, the Labour MP who stood down to make way for Mr Burnham, won in 2024 by just 5,399 votes, while Reform comfortably won every ward in the constituency at this month’s local elections.

Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats unveiled Stockport councillor Jake Austin as their candidate to contest the seat.

Mr Austin said the people of Makerfield “deserve so much more than the failing Labour Government or the divisive politics of Reform UK”.

On Thursday, the Green Party announced that its candidate Chris Kennedy had withdrawn from the race just hours after he had been selected.

The party said Mr Kennedy had withdrawn for “personal and family reasons”, but it later emerged that he had shared posts on social media claiming an attack on Jewish ambulances in north London had been a “false flag” operation.

A Green spokesperson said Mr Kennedy had deleted and apologised for the posts, but added the party stood by its previous statement about the reasons for his withdrawal.

The candidates announced so far are: Andy Burnham (Labour), Robert Kenyon (Reform UK), Rebecca Shepherd (Restore Britain), Alan “Howlin” Laud Hope (Monster Raving Loony Party), Michael Winstanley (Conservative) and Jake Austin (Liberal Democrats).