Andy Burnham's path to a potential leadership bid has been fraught with difficulties, as the Greater Manchester mayor finally secured a parliamentary seat after weeks of uncertainty. His supporters had urged MPs to 'hold the line', but the reality was that Burnham faced numerous obstacles, including two failed leadership contests and a block on a return in Gorton and Denton.
By Thursday, with most contenders ruling themselves out, Burnham's backers were growing desperate. Only a handful of his closest advisers knew that an unexpected seat was becoming available. When Wes Streeting resigned from Keir Starmer's cabinet, it sparked a bombshell, but Burnham still had no seat in Westminster from which to launch his own challenge.
The mood among his supporters was bleak, with one describing it as 'a shit cocktail'. However, Burnham's team worked behind the scenes, and an opportunity finally appeared. A source close to Burnham said it was 'always a case of just sitting and waiting', with the sense that Labour's poor performance in Gorton and Denton and local elections could 'unlock that route back'.
The process was fraught, with several MPs refusing to give up their seats. Paula Barker, MP for Liverpool Wavertree, declined, while Marie Rimmer, MP for St Helens South and Whiston, said she was 'appalled' and 'insulted' by the approach. There were also rumours of offers of the Greater Manchester mayoralty or a seat in the Lords in exchange for a parliamentary seat, but these were dismissed.
Eventually, a wildcard emerged in Josh Simons, the 32-year-old Makerfield MP who had long been disillusioned with Starmer. Simons only seriously considered giving up his seat this week, with the final decision made after Burnham came to his aid following major floods in Platt Bridge. A friend said Simons was 'radicalised' by his experience as a constituency MP, and Burnham's advocacy for the people was a key factor.
