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Streeting throws his support behind Burnham for Makerfield byelection
Former health secretary Wes Streeting has voiced his support for Andy Burnham to compete in the Makerfield byelection, describing him as one of Labour’s “best players on the pitch”.
In a post on X, Streeting, a potential Labour leadership challenger, said:
We need our best players on the pitch. There is no doubt that Andy Burnham is one of them.
The Makerfield byelection will be tough. Votes will need to be earned.
Andy is the best chance of winning and that should override factional advantage or propping up one person.
If successful, Burnham is widely expected to challenge Keir Starmer for the party leadership.
Key events
Graeme Wearden
The pound was heading for its worst week in 18 months on Friday as City traders anticipated that the UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, could face a challenge from the Manchester mayor, Andy Burnham, later this year.
After days of uncertainty over Starmer’s future, sterling dropped by almost three cents, or 2%, during the week to $1.336 on Friday, a five-week low. That would be the largest weekly drop against the US dollar since Donald Trump’s election win in early November 2024.
The pound fell against the dollar every day this week as leadership tensions gripped Westminster, culminating in the prospect of Burnham challenging Starmer for the role of PM after the Greater Manchester mayor announced he would run for parliament in the north-west constituency of Makerfield.
“The pound is weakening this morning after a sharp drop on Thursday, when Andy Burnham threw his hat into the ring,” said Kathleen Brooks, the research director at XTB.
“This is a sign that Burnham is the least market-friendly of all the candidates, as Wes Streeting’s resignation did not have the same negative effect.”
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In other news today, parliament’s intelligence watchdog has criticised the government for redacting documents “far too broadly” in response to MPs’ demands for details on Peter Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador.
PA reports that the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) said today that it had made its final decisions on redactions in 337 documents connected to the appointment on national security grounds.
However, in a statement, the ISC raised “concerns” about wider redactions. This includes individuals’ personal data, email addresses and the identities of junior civil servants.
The ISC also suggested redactions on non-security grounds were “being applied far too broadly”, and accused the government of withholding documents despite not having “the authority to do so”.
The committee said it did not think the motion passed by the Commons demanding documents related to the appointment allowed redactions “other than on grounds of prejudice to UK national security and international relations”.
In particular, the committee said the government had withheld a vetting file compiled by UK Security Vetting (UKSV). In April, it was revealed that UKSV had recommended against granting Mandelson the developed vetting necessary for his appointment, but the Foreign Office had given him clearance despite that advice.
Back Tories to prevent ‘SNP patsy’ winning Aberdeen byelection, says Findlay
Meanwhile in Scotland, a byelection will soon be triggered following the resignation of former SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn, who now sits in Holyrood.
Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay has urged voters to back his party in a Westminster byelection to prevent an “SNP patsy” winning.
Findlay visited Aberdeen on Friday, just 24 hours after former SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn resigned his Aberdeen South seat following his election to Holyrood.
The Scottish Tories are confident of a win and are understood to be prepared to throw substantial resources at the race, with MSP Douglas Lumsden seeking the party’s nomination.
Speaking after a visit to AJT Engineering in the city, Findlay said: “I’m here today because we want to win this byelection.
“It’s a straight fight between the SNP and the Scottish Conservatives.
“If you want a pro-oil and gas MP representing this area in the House of Commons, or if you want an SNP patsy who won’t speak up for the industry – that’s the clear choice.”
The Tories will look to turn the byelection into a referendum on oil and gas, with Findlay and UK leader Kemi Badenoch seeking to champion the sector which provides thousands of jobs in the north east of Scotland.
Labour pressure group urges party to allow Burnham to run in Makerfield
Labour pressure group Mainstream have urged the party to allow Andy Burnham to seek selection as its candidate in Makerfield.
The group describe themselves as “radical realists” and in opposition to the “populist right” said the decision would be the best way of showing Labour were putting “country before party”.
The group’s interim council said in a statement: “Uniting behind the strongest possible candidate and running a positive, hopeful campaign with an offer of transformative change at its heart is how Labour will earn the kind permission to continue representing the people of Makerfield in parliament.
“That is why we hope Labour’s National Executive Committee will ensure Makerfield CLP is free to choose from the widest possible field of candidates in this by-election, a field that should clearly include Andy Burnham.
Greens suggest they will properly contest byelection in blow to Burnham
Peter Walker
The Greens are going to campaign for the upcoming Makerfield byelection, complicating Andy Burnham’s potential route back to parliament against what is expected to be a strong Reform UK challenge.
A statement from the Greens said candidate selection was in process and that the party had learned from its win in another Greater Manchester seat in February, when they overcame a 13,000 Labour majority in Gorton and Denton.
Labour has a smaller majority of just over 5,000 in Makerfield, where Reform came second in the 2024 election. The sitting MP, Josh Simons, announced on Thursday that he would stand down, saying he wanted Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor, to replace him.
A Green spokesperson said: “We are looking forward to the campaign. We’ve learned from our campaigning and wins in Gorton and Denton and the recent local elections, and we’ve shown we can beat Reform.”
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Andy Burnham has emerged, looking in good spirits as he’s pictured on his morning run in Warrington, Cheshire.
‘It’s a tough thing,’ says Trump on Starmer’s survival as prime minister
Donald Trump has given his two cents on whether Keir Starmer can survive as prime minister.
He said Starmer was in trouble because of “energy and immigration”.
Speaking to reporters on board Air Force One following his trip to China, the US president said: “He’s very bad on energy. He should open up the North Sea. He’s got a goldmine and he should open up oil in the North Sea. And he doesn’t. They have a tremendous value.”
When asked again whether Starmer could survive as prime minister, Trump said “it’s a tough thing” and reverted back to speaking about the North Sea and windmills.
“Unless he can straighten out immigration, where he’s weak, and if he doesn’t start drilling, stop with the windmills all over the place that are causing havoc … most expensive form of energy. They kill the birds. They’re unsightly. They’re ruining the landscape. If he doesn’t stop with the windmills … he’s got to open up the North Sea,” he said.
Trump declined to answer when asked whether Starmer should quit, saying: “I think he’s a nice man actually.”
But he did criticise Starmer again for refusing to join the US and Israel in striking Iran, claiming the war was now “sort of finished militarily … probably 70-75%”.
Joanne Thomas, the general secretary of Usdaw, said her union would back Andy Burnham’s Westminster bid.
Thomas, who also chairs the Tulo group of Labour-affiliated trade unions, said:
There is a consensus building that it would be wrong for members in Makerfield to not have the opportunity to select Andy Burnham as their candidate for the Makerfield byelection.
Therefore, Usdaw’s NEC representatives have decided they will vote for the Greater Manchester mayor to be allowed to seek selection as a parliamentary candidate.
Usdaw has two representatives on Labour’s national executive committee (NEC), including one who sat on the officers committee that blocked Burnham from contesting the Gorton and Denton byelection in February, according to PA.
Labour’s NEC officer committee, which will make the decision on whether Andy Burnham can stand in the Makerfield byelection, will meet this weekend, according to Sky News.
There were reports suggesting the 10-person officers’ group could meet today, but Sky News has reported it is likely to happen over the weekend, although it is unclear exactly when.
Labour’s ruling national executive committee will hold its next full meeting on Tuesday.
Earlier, Labour’s deputy leader, Lucy Powell, said she had it on good authority that there will be “absolutely no attempt to stop” Burnham from standing.
The Press Association has reported that a byelection in Makerfield could cost the taxpayer up to £226,000, the most the area’s returning officer can claim from the Treasury to cover the cost of running the poll.
The cost of a mayoral byelection in Greater Manchester would run into the millions, with the 2024 mayoral election costing the taxpayer £4.7m.
Streeting throws his support behind Burnham for Makerfield byelection
Former health secretary Wes Streeting has voiced his support for Andy Burnham to compete in the Makerfield byelection, describing him as one of Labour’s “best players on the pitch”.
In a post on X, Streeting, a potential Labour leadership challenger, said:
We need our best players on the pitch. There is no doubt that Andy Burnham is one of them.
The Makerfield byelection will be tough. Votes will need to be earned.
Andy is the best chance of winning and that should override factional advantage or propping up one person.
If successful, Burnham is widely expected to challenge Keir Starmer for the party leadership.
11 foreign far-right activists banned from entering UK for Tommy Robinson rally
Ben Quinn
Eleven foreign far-right activists have been banned from coming to the UK ahead of tomorrow’s march by supporters of Tommy Robinson, as the prime minister said there was a “fight for the soul of the country”.
Downing Street said Keir Starmer was taking action to “protect British communities from vile hate” amid bans on foreign activists including the US-based extremist Valentina Gomez.
Tens of thousands are expected to attend the self-styled “Unite the Kingdom” march promoted by Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley Lennon.
Visiting the Metropolitan police’s command and control special operations room today, Starmer said:
We’re in a fight for the soul of this country, and the Unite the Kingdom march this weekend is a stark reminder of exactly what we are up against. Its organisers are peddling hatred and division, plain and simple.
We will block those coming into the UK who seek to incite hatred and violence. For anyone who sets out to wreak havoc on our streets, to intimidate or threaten anyone, you can expect to face the full force of the law.
My government will always champion peaceful protest but will act decisively against hatred. We all have a responsibility to speak out against those spouting vile divisive views wherever we see it.
We are a country built on decency, fairness and respect, at our best when people from different backgrounds come together in common purpose. That is what we must fight for.
Starmer met police chiefs earlier this morning. Downing Street said that he “made clear he recognises that the majority expected to attend are law-abiding citizens, who want to protest peacefully, and urged everyone attending a protest to act with decency and respect”.
Tomorrow is expected to be one of the busiest days of the year when it comes to policing in London. Many are expected to attend a pro-Palestine protest, while there will also be a presence by anti-fascist protesters organised by Stand Up to Racism.
Keir Starmer spent the morning visiting a south London police station, where he met London mayor Sadiq Khan and Metropolitan police commissioner Mark Rowley ahead of major protests taking place in the capital tomorrow.
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