Overview
- Andy Burnham formally launched his Labour campaign on Friday, May 22, pitching a June 18 by-election win as a chance to “change Labour” and return him to Westminster.
- At the launch Burnham set out policies on council house building, rail renationalisation, electoral reform in the next manifesto, and a tougher stance on immigration while saying he will work within Labour’s 2024 manifesto limits.
- The race is tightly contested because Reform UK is strong locally and its candidate Robert Kenyon has campaigned with Nigel Farage, so recent polling shows Burnham boosts Labour’s hold but victory is not assured.
- The Green Party’s initial candidate, Chris Kennedy, withdrew hours after selection following social‑media posts that provoked controversy, and the Lib Dems and Conservatives have also named candidates for the June contest.
- The by-election is both a local fight over services and housing and a national test after Labour’s poor results in early May, because a Burnham win plus 81 MP nominations would allow a formal leadership challenge to Keir Starmer.