Burnham aligns with Mahmood on immigration reforms ahead of Makerfield contest
Allies say the move is designed to demonstrate border control to rebuild public trust, even as senior Labour figures condemn the measures as un-British.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham is understood to support Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s controversial immigration reforms, a position that challenges hopes within the Labour Party for a softer approach. Allies state that Burnham aims to reframe the policy to demonstrate effective border control, arguing that public trust in political management is a prerequisite for positively framing migration’s contribution to the country.
The reforms, which include ending permanent refugee status and doubling the time required to achieve settled status from five to ten years, have drawn sharp criticism from senior Labour MPs. Figures such as Angela Rayner and Sarah Owen have labelled the proposals un-British, with Owen comparing aspects of the policy to Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement tactics. Despite this internal dissent, those close to Burnham insist he will not seek to dilute the government’s curbs on both legal and illegal migration.
The political context for Burnham is defined by a difficult by-election campaign in Makerfield against Reform UK, where immigration has emerged as a key issue. The constituency recorded the largest Reform vote in the country during recent local elections, and Burnham faces accusations from opponents regarding his past stance on open borders. A source close to the campaign described the contest as the most significant by-election for Labour in half a century, noting that immigration is the second most important issue for voters in the area.
To manage the campaign, Burnham’s team has appointed two prominent soft-left MPs, Anneliese Midgley and Louise Haigh, to lead the effort. This decision comes despite the broader party division, with YouGov polling published on Wednesday indicating that 44 per cent of Labour members back Mahmood’s changes. The same poll suggests that 44 per cent of members believe the party faces a greater risk of losing votes to Reform UK if the reforms are not pursued, compared to just 15 per cent who view the Greens as the primary threat.
Burnham, who was confirmed as Labour’s candidate for Makerfield earlier this week, is widely expected to seek the party leadership should he win the seat. His alignment with the Home Secretary’s hardline stance contrasts with his previous reservations regarding the reassessment of asylum seekers’ status if their home countries become safer, citing concerns about Home Office backlogs. Meanwhile, the Conservatives have announced they will stand Michael Winstanley as their candidate, rejecting calls from some party members to allow Reform a free run.