Burnham moderates immigration stance ahead of Makerfield byelection

Andy Burnham, the Labour candidate for the Makerfield byelection, has moderated his previous demands to scrap the 'no recourse to public funds' (NRPF) policy, which restricts immigrants’ access to benefits and public housing. The Greater Manchester mayor, who previously urged the government to abolish the rule to combat homelessness, now emphasises the need for both control and compassion in immigration reform. This shift follows his recent support for Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s controversial immigration changes.

Burnham faces a direct contest against Reform UK in Makerfield, with his campaign framed as a potential bid to replace Keir Starmer as Labour leader and prime minister. A spokesperson for Burnham stated that he recognises towns across the country want an immigration system that is fair and under government control, and that it is right to pursue "root and branch reform".

Burnham told reporters in Makerfield that while the "broad thrust" of Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s immigration changes is "right", there could be adjustments, particularly regarding rules on granting settled status. He indicated that if he wins the byelection and subsequently replaces Keir Starmer as prime minister, he will re-examine such policies and how best to tackle rough sleeping, a priority of his mayoralty.

The change of stance follows Burnham’s decision last week to back controversial changes to the immigration system being pushed through by the home secretary. Speaking to reporters in Makerfield last Friday, Burnham said he had heard people’s concerns about immigration on the doorstep, and that while "the broad thrust of what [Mahmood] is doing is right", there could be some changes.

He called for a "real" consultation on the issue of settled status rules, acknowledging concerns raised by some Labour MPs that the changes are punitive and unfair, particularly for people already in the UK. Burnham’s views on migration are under scrutiny as he faces what appears to be a direct fight against Reform UK for Makerfield, just outside Wigan.

Formally launching his campaign last week, Burnham presented it as a barely coded pitch for him to replace Starmer if he returned to Westminster, saying a vote for him to become the MP there was "a vote to change Labour". The NRPF policy, which has prevented people moving to the UK from accessing benefits or public housing before they are granted settled status since 1999, has been a significant driver of homelessness.

In 2023, Burnham signed a joint letter with the mayors of every Greater Manchester borough, urging the then-Conservative government to take action to stop a surge in homelessness due to the planned closure of so-called bridging hotels. The letter asked for the NRPF rules to be changed so that non-UK nationals in this situation who faced homelessness would be given "at least a minimum safety net".

In 2019, in a statement on his mayoral website calling for more efforts to combat homelessness, Burnham said one response should be to "abolish the no recourse to public funds policy". His current position marks a departure from those earlier calls, aligning more closely with the current government’s approach while retaining a critique of specific implementation details.