Burnham selected as Labour candidate for Makerfield byelection
Labour confirms no other applicants were shortlisted for the seat vacated by Josh Simons, with the poll expected on 18 June pending Commons authority confirmation.
Andy Burnham has been confirmed as the Labour candidate for the Makerfield byelection following approval by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC). The Mayor of Greater Manchester was selected after the NEC reviewed applications for the constituency seat, which became vacant following the departure of former MP Josh Simons.
Labour stated that while other individuals had applied to stand for the party, no other candidates were shortlisted for the nomination. The decision marks the formal conclusion of the selection process for the seat, with Burnham now set to lead the party’s campaign efforts.
The byelection is widely expected to take place on 18 June, pending final confirmation by Commons authorities. The date remains subject to formal procedural validation, but the timeline has been widely circulated by political sources as the projected polling day.
Burnham will face Robert Kenyon, the Reform UK candidate who was confirmed as the party’s nominee for the contest. Kenyon, a plumber, previously contested the Makerfield seat in the 2024 general election, where he finished as the runner-up to Josh Simons.
In the 2024 general election, Kenyon came within 5,399 votes of Simons, highlighting the competitive nature of the constituency. The byelection will serve as a significant test of political sentiment in the area following the recent general election results.