Burnham to launch byelection campaign as Green candidate quits after just nine hours – UK politics live

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Andy Burnham is set to officially launch his campaign as the Labour candidate in the Makerfield byelection this morning, as he seeks a return to parliament after nine years.

Also this morning, the Greens have re-opened its candidate selection process for the byelection after Chris Kennedy pulled out less than 12 hours after being announced as the party’s candidate.

We should be hearing from Burnham from about 10.45am for the official launch, although he has already been pictured out and about canvassing in the Greater Manchester constituency this week.

Andy Burnham out canvassing ahead of the byelection Photograph: Ryan Jenkinson/Getty Images

He is widely expected to challenge Keir Starmer for the Labour leadership if he becomes an MP, but the prime minister has said he will be out campaigning in support of Burnham ahead of the vote on 18 June.

“Yes, and I’ve said to the whole Labour movement that I want everybody to be involved in the campaign, whatever other discussions are going on, it’s really important – that’s a straight fight between Labour and Reform,” Starmer said.

Meanwhile, Kennedy, the Green’s candidate for the byelection, withdrew from the ballot nine hours after being announced, with the party citing “personal and family reasons”.

The Times reported it had approached Kennedy about a series of social media posts he had shared about an attack on Jewish ambulances in north London in April. An Instagram video shared by Kennedy described the arrests of two men over the incident as “total bullshit to keep the false flag flying”, the paper reported.