Andy Burnham officially launched his campaign for the Makerfield by-election on Monday, positioning himself as the candidate to drag Labour back to its roots and restore electoral success. The Greater Manchester mayor, often dubbed the 'King of the North', used the event to criticise the party's direction and promise a 'vote to change Labour'.
Speaking in Ashton-in-Makerfield, Burnham said Westminster had become 'dangerously disconnected' from ordinary people and warned Labour had 'left the people'. He called for 'maximum devolution of power' out of Whitehall, citing bus services in Greater Manchester as an example of how local control can benefit communities.
Burnham also signalled a tougher stance on immigration, describing asylum hotels as 'a symbol of Home Office failure' and calling for 'a stronger grip' on border control. His intervention comes after Labour suffered poor local election results earlier this month, sparking questions over the Prime Minister's authority.
Pollsters suggest Burnham's candidacy significantly boosts Labour's chances of retaining the seat, but the contest remains tight. Reform UK won every ward in the constituency at the local elections, while Labour's majority in 2024 was just 5,399 votes. The Liberal Democrats have selected Stockport councillor Jake Austin as their candidate, while the Green Party's candidate, Chris Kennedy, withdrew citing personal reasons.
