Wes Streeting has backed Andy Burnham as Labour's "best chance" of winning the Makerfield by-election, as the former health secretary's allies indicated he would still contest any future leadership battle.
Mr Burnham declared he would seek permission from Labour's National Executive Committee (NEC) to contest the by-election after the current MP, Josh Simons, announced on Thursday he would quit Parliament to make way for the mayor. If successful, Mr Burnham is widely expected to challenge Sir Keir Starmer for the party leadership.
In a tweet on Friday, Mr Streeting backed his potential rival's bid, saying Labour needs "our best players on the pitch." He stated: "The Makerfield by-election will be tough. Votes will need to be earned. Andy is the best chance of winning and that should override factional advantage or propping up one person."
Despite his endorsement, allies of Mr Streeting said the former health secretary, who resigned on Thursday, would be a candidate in any forthcoming leadership battle. They added that Mr Streeting had made clear in his resignation letter that he wanted a contest to feature "the broadest set of candidates possible."
Labour expects a stiff challenge from Reform UK in Makerfield, with Mr Simons securing a majority of just 5,399 over Nigel Farage's party at the 2024 general election. Since then, Labour's polling collapse and Reform's surge have reversed their positions. This month's local elections saw Reform win every council ward in the constituency, securing around half the vote, while Labour won only a little more than a quarter.
However, Mr Burnham could benefit from his strong personal following across the North West, where he enjoys a net favourability rating of 24% according to pollster Ipsos—considerably higher than any of the party leaders or the Labour Party itself.
Speaking to BBC Manchester on Friday, Mr Simons acknowledged the contest would be "a really, really, really tough fight," adding he did not know what the result would be. He said: "Sometimes in history, when people take risks and they say, 'I think this is the right fight to have, but I don't know if we're going to win it', that's what changes the story. That's what changes the course of things."
The election could also prove expensive, especially as a victory for Mr Burnham would trigger another by-election for the Greater Manchester mayoralty. A by-election in Makerfield alone could cost the taxpayer up to £226,000, the maximum the area's returning officer can claim from the Treasury. But the cost of a mayoral by-election in Greater Manchester would run into the millions, with the 2024 mayoral election costing £4.7 million.
The prospect of a mayoral by-election means Mr Burnham must secure permission from Labour's NEC before he can put himself forward. His previous bid to contest a by-election in Gorton and Denton was rejected by an NEC officers committee, including Sir Keir himself. It is understood the Prime Minister does not intend to block Mr Burnham a second time, but a decision is not expected until the NEC meets next week.
Joanne Thomas, general secretary of Usdaw and chairwoman of the Tulo group of Labour-affiliated trade unions, said her union's representatives on the NEC would back Mr Burnham's candidacy. Usdaw has two representatives on the NEC, including one who sat on the smaller officers committee that blocked him from contesting Gorton and Denton.
Meanwhile, one of Sir Keir's key Cabinet allies has warned against a leadership challenge even if Mr Burnham returns to Westminster. Communities Secretary Steve Reed claimed the party would suffer further damage at the ballot box if it pursued a contest as the Conservatives did in their final years in office. He told Sky News: "We're in power. We were sent here by the British public to deliver change. We promised the fastest growing economy in the G7, this first quarter this year. We've done it. We promised to cut NHS waiting lists. Yesterday we saw the biggest monthly fall for 18 years. Why would we throw that away to engage in the chaos that consumed the Conservatives?"
Candidate selection processes are already under way for Reform UK and the Greens. Last week's local election results suggest the contest could be a two-horse race between Reform and Mr Burnham, though Zack Polanski's party said it was "looking forward to the campaign." A spokesperson said: "We've learnt from our campaigning and wins in Gorton and Denton and the recent local elections, and we've shown we can beat Reform."
