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  "path": "/2026/05/19/andy-burnham-confirmed-labour-candidate-makerfield-by-election-28434360/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-05-19T13:00:22.000Z",
  "site": "https://metro.co.uk",
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    "News",
    "Politics",
    "Andy Burnham",
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    "Sir Keir Starmer",
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  "textContent": "Andy Burnham has begun canvassing for support in the crucial by-election (Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)\n\nAndy Burnham is one step closer to returning to Parliament after he was confirmed as Labour’s candidate in the Makerfield by-election.\n\nLabour’s governing body chose the Greater Manchester Mayor and did not shortlist anyone else.\n\nBurnham now faces a political fight to win over voters in Makerfield, where Reform are expected to attract significant support.\n\nFormer minister Josh Simons quit as the area’s MP to allow Burnham a route back to Westminster so he can challenge Sir Keir Starmer for the leadership of the Labour party.\n\nAndy Burnham put out a rousing campaign video yesterday\n\nThe by-election is likely to be scheduled for June 18.\n\n##  Everything is changing, all the time\n\nCut through political noise and understand how the Westminster chaos actually affects your life with Metro's politics newsletter Alright, Gov? Sign up here.\n\nReform announced their candidate this afternoon as self-employed plumber Robert Kenyon.\n\nHe ran in the 2024 election and finished in second place in the Greater Manchester constituency, 5,000 votes behind Labour.\n\nHowever Labour suffered catastrophic losses in the local elections in Wigan council, which covers much of Makerfield.\n\nReform picked up 24 out of 25 seats contested on May 7.\n\nReform leader Nigel Farage said: ‘This by-election contest is now a David versus Goliath battle. This is “the plucky plumber” taking on “open borders Burnham”. Only Reform UK can beat Labour in this by-election.’\n\nBurnham is widely seen as the leading contender to challenge the Prime Minister for the top job, if he wins the by-election.\n\nTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tvideo\n\nUp Next\n\nPrevious Page\n\nNext Page\n\nSir Keir has been under pressure to resign after Labour lost close to 1,500 seats at the local elections, sparking resignations from Wes Streeting and other government ministers.\n\nHe has vowed to stay in office and fight the next election, despite his grip on power looker weaker than ever.\n\nThis morning he led a Cabinet meeting discussed policy and not the elephant in the room.\n\nIn a read out of proceedings, it was said that Sir Keir welcomed the new Health Secretary and Chief Secretary to the Treasury to Cabinet before asking ministers to update him on their portfolios.\n\nWhen asked whether there was any mention of a potential leadership challenge, No 10 indicated the meeting was focused on future delivery.\n\n******Get in touch with our news team by emailing us atwebnews@metro.co.uk.******\n\n**For more stories like this,** check our news page.\n\nComment now Comments \nAdd Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source\n",
  "title": "Andy Burnham confirmed as Labour candidate in Makerfield by-election"
}