Andy Burnham has returned to House Of Commons after winning the Makerfield By Election in Greater Manchester on 18 June 2026 with a majority of more than 9,200 votes.
Andy Burnham's nine-year tenure as Mayor of Greater Manchester, which began on 8 May 2017 and saw him win via Greater Manchester Mayoral Elections in both 2021 and 2024, came to an end on 19 June 2026.
Upon being elected as Labour Party MP for Makerfield in the By Election held the previous day, he was automatically disqualified from continuing as Mayor under the rules governing the office.
The By Election itself was triggered by the resignation of the sitting Labour Party MP, Josh Simons, on 14 May 2026, who stood down specifically to create the opportunity for Mr. Burnham to return to House Of Commons.
Andy Burnham's nine-year tenure as Mayor of Greater Manchester, which began on 8 May 2017 and saw him win via Greater Manchester Mayoral Elections in both 2021 and 2024, came to an end on 19 June 2026.
Upon being elected as Labour Party MP for Makerfield in the By Election held the previous day, he was automatically disqualified from continuing as Mayor under the rules governing the office.
The By Election itself was triggered by the resignation of the sitting Labour Party MP, Josh Simons, on 14 May 2026, who stood down specifically to create the opportunity for Mr. Burnham to return to House Of Commons.
Andy Burnham is now widely seen as the frontrunner to succeed outgoing Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer as Prime Minister.
Sir Keir announced his resignation earlier this week following internal pressure, much of it linked to the appointment of Lord Peter Mandelson as British Ambassador to United States.
Lord Mandelson had failed security clearances because of his connections to the convicted Sex Offender and Child Abuser Jeffrey Epstein.
Sir Keir has maintained that he was unaware of the security concerns at the time of the appointment, despite contrary claims from some senior advisers.
Lord Peter Mandelson was later removed from the post.
Sir Keir announced his resignation earlier this week following internal pressure, much of it linked to the appointment of Lord Peter Mandelson as British Ambassador to United States.
Lord Mandelson had failed security clearances because of his connections to the convicted Sex Offender and Child Abuser Jeffrey Epstein.
Sir Keir has maintained that he was unaware of the security concerns at the time of the appointment, despite contrary claims from some senior advisers.
Lord Peter Mandelson was later removed from the post.
With a Labour leadership contest expected to conclude rapidly, possibly before the Summer recess, attention is turning to whether Mr. Burnham could make further political history.
Should he become Prime Minister before 01 January 2027, he would be the first British Politician to serve as both Prime Minister and a directly-elected Mayor in the same calendar year.
He would join Boris Johnson as only the second person to have held both offices.
Should he become Prime Minister before 01 January 2027, he would be the first British Politician to serve as both Prime Minister and a directly-elected Mayor in the same calendar year.
He would join Boris Johnson as only the second person to have held both offices.
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