Labour MP Josh Simons resigns Makerfield seat to back Andy Burnham leadership bid
Simons’ departure follows a February scandal regarding investigations into journalists and marks a significant escalation in the contest to succeed Keir Starmer.
Josh Simons, the Member of Parliament for Makerfield, has resigned from parliament to facilitate Andy Burnham’s potential succession to Keir Starmer as Labour leader. The 32-year-old, who won his seat only two years ago, stated in his resignation letter that he was putting constituents first and argued there needed to be a “shock to the Westminster system” following recent local and devolved election results.
Simons was one of the first MPs to publicly call on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to set a timetable for his departure. His decision comes despite his previous role as director of Labour Together, the thinktank he ran which helped shape Starmer’s policy programme and contributed to his rise to power. Burnham has praised Simons’ decision as a significant sacrifice for the party, noting the difficult choice he and his family are making.
The resignation follows a scandal in February 2026, where Simons stepped down as a Cabinet Office minister after commissioning an investigation into journalists reporting on his former thinktank. He had personally commissioned and reviewed the work of public affairs agency APCO, which investigated journalists looking into the group’s funding. Simons resigned at the time, stating his position had become a distraction from the government’s important work.
Reactions among Labour colleagues are mixed, with some praising his ambition and others questioning his political alignment. Simons is seen by many colleagues as being close to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, placing him on the Blue Labour right of the party, whereas Burnham is associated with the soft left. One MP who supports Burnham said Simons should never have been an MP, while another described the alignment as a mystery for the party’s left and centre.
Despite leaving parliament, Simons’ letter hints he will remain close to Burnham and continue to fight for the constituency’s interests. He stated that if constituents place their trust in Andy, he will help restore towns and build a new system. Simons, who studied at the University of Cambridge and previously worked as an AI research scientist at Meta, has been a key figure in the leadership contest since before his election.