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How team Burnham finally cleared the first of many hurdles on route to Westminster

Andy Burnham seated with his hands clasped in front of him](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/4c6b850a7be5a7ba0f94155da63a5d5cb7ae9d67/500_0_5000_4000/master/5000.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none) ‘Burnham winning in Wigan will change the story,’ Josh Simons said. Photograph: Danny Lawson/PA Burnham’s success was therefore existential, Simons

Starmer brings in Gordon Brown and Harriet Harman to ease pressure on him to resign

Andy Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor, to be allowed to stand for parliament, but said this should not involve Burnham then challenging Starmer. “We don’t do hospital takeovers in the Labour party

Where does Starmer’s leadership stand – and who are his potential challengers?

Andy Burnham done a deal with to get back to Westminster, and would MPs support him if he did? Why has [Wes Streeting](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/wes-streeting) gone so quiet? To the frustration of many

No 10 braced for ‘excruciating’ revelations as Mandelson files published – UK politics live

Andy Burnham. (See [12.22pm](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2026/jun/01/peter-mandelson-documents-published-keir-starmer-labour-latest-news-updates?page=with%3Ablock-6a1d62758f08cf8299b18ed1#block-6a1d62758f08cf8299b18ed1).) > double quotation markAndy wants to change Labour. I want to change Makerfield. > > That’s the difference. That prompted this reply [from](https://x.com/lukejcr/status/2061392828614189475) the Labour

What does Makerfield make of by-election and can Burnham win?

Andy Burnham, did not have a way to challenge him, as he is not an MP. Which is where Makerfield comes in. The area's current MP, Josh Simons, has announced he is standing down

Wes Streeting: PM-in-waiting or ‘this generation’s David Miliband’?

Andy Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor, was not in parliament. “It’s why we felt so confident that Keir would not have to resign – they thought he can be bullied

Potential leadership challengers jostle for positions as PM's allies warn of 'chaos'

PM's allies warn of 'chaos' What we are witnessing this morning is the jostling on the expected start line of a race to be our next prime minister. The jostling is evident everywhere: from

Keir Starmer under pressure to agree exit plan after election mauling

Andy Burnham, two of Starmer’s potential leadership rivals, said they would keep their counsel and watch how events developed over the weekend. Wes Streeting was expected to speak to the media after his local

Unhappy Labour MPs aren't ready to oust Starmer yet

supportive MP would have to stand down. Burnham would also need the approval of Labour's ruling body, the National Executive – the composition of which could move in his favour this summer

Monday briefing: Trump’s late-night deal with Iran

support him, saying of the British PM “he’s no Winston Churchill”. But his most spectacular fallout has been with the man who took him into this war: Benjamin Netanyahu. At the start of this

PM defends record as Badenoch says he squandered election win

PM misled MPs over the appointment of Lord Mandelson](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cze25j9p1k7o). On Tuesday evening, the House of Commons voted not to refer the prime minister to the Privileges Committee by 335 votes

Wes Streeting leaves No 10 after planned talks with Keir Starmer - UK politics live

support he needs to win a contest. Starmer refused to meet Streeting for a one-to-one conversation after cabinet yesterday, but they will meet this morning. According to [one report](https://x.com/Steven_Swinford/status/2054248831152468119), Streeting

Burnham cleared to run for selection in pivotal by-election

Andy Burnham has been cleared to seek selection as Labour's candidate in a by-election which could pave the way for him to return to Westminster. The mayor has been given the go-ahead

Pressure mounts on embattled UK PM Keir Starmer as rivals circle

PM Keir Starmer as rivals circle British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s administration is embroiled in turmoil amid a [calamitous local election](/news/2026/5/8/leader-of-the-pack-what-next-as-reform-makes-huge-election-gains) result for the Labour Party last week. Starmer, who has been [dogged

Could Starmer bring back Rayner to steady ship – and would she get onboard?

support. Throughout this period, there has been regular speculation about a return to the frontbench, with Starmer himself [saying](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/dec/07/keir-starmer-says-hugely-talented-angela-rayner-will-return-to-cabinet) he would welcome it. He and Rayner reportedly discussed the idea when they

Starmer to face Commons grilling at PMQs as Streeting plans resignation speech – UK politics live

support Russia’s war effort but we’re still saying that we’re going to take sanctioned oil but so long as it goes to Turkey first and then it’s refined, we will

The race to replace Starmer is on - but he still faces a momentous choice

Andy Burnham might not be successful in his bid to become an MP again](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cyv26e7yd89o). Reform will throw everything they have at winning the Makerfield seat to stop him in his tracks. They

Labour MPs have put Starmer on notice after election battering. Can he turn it around?

Andy Burnham this weekend. He isn't even an MP, and after Labour took a pasting across his backyard in the North West, perhaps it looks harder for him this weekend too. I also

‘Why are we even doing this?’ The week that left Britain’s PM looking like an interim leader

Andy Burnham is seen as Keir Starmer’s successor apparent. Photograph: Temilade Adelaja/Reuters She began by saying that if no one in the cabinet was willing to seek the 81 nominations needed to kickstart

Labour MP in seat eyed by Burnham allies says she will not stand aside

Andy Burnham in years and neither has he spoken to me.” Rimmer, 78, said she had experienced ill health but had not stopped working and had not held any conversations with the [Labour](https://www.theguardian.com