Summary

  • Andy Burnham's allies say former Health Secretary Wes Streeting's comments that Britain lies "one day back in the European Union" were unhelpful, as he seeks to stand in the Makerfield by-election

  • Speaking on Saturday, Streeting said "leaving the European Union was a catastrophic mistake" as he announced his intentions to run in any potential Labour leadership contest

  • Greater Manchester Mayor Burnham - who is also seen as a potential leadership challenger - says there may be a case for rejoining the EU "in the long-term", but insists he is "not advocating that in this by-election"

  • Prime Minister Keir Starmer has defied calls to step down in recent days, after nearly 90 of his own MPs urged him to go and five ministers resigned - including Streeting

  • Burnham has been cleared to put his name forward as the Labour candidate in the Makerfield by-election - nominations close later today

  • If selected as candidate, Burnham would need to win the election and secure the support of 81 Labour MPs before he can trigger a leadership contest

Live Reporting

Edited by Sean Seddon and Owen Amos

  1. Latest comments from Burnham and Streeting

    A composite image of Andy Burnham and Wes Streeting looking to the cameraGetty Images

    We haven't heard directly from Andy Burnham or Wes Streeting since Saturday, when both began to set out their stalls for a potential leadership contest.

    Streeting confirmed he would stand in any future race, saying: "We need a proper contest with the best candidates on the field, and I will be standing."

    He also said leaving the European Union had been a "catastrophic mistake" and the UK should "one day" rejoin the bloc.

    Burnham told the BBC that Labour "needs to be better", adding: "We've got to see this as a moment to reclaim the Labour Party, to save it from where it's been - we can't just carry on as we are."

  2. When is the Makerfield by-election?

    The Makerfield by-election is likely to be held on 18 June, the BBC understands.

    Labour candidate applications close at midday today.

    Labour's ruling body cleared Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to run for selection last week, having previously blocked him from standing in the Gorton and Denton by-election in February. This paves the way for him to return to Westminster, should he stand and win.

    It's not yet clear when the other parties will hold their selections.

    At the general election in 2024, Labour won the seat with 45.2% of the vote, a majority of 5,399. Reform came in second with 31.8%.

    But local elections earlier this month showed Reform taking roughly 50% of the vote - albeit council ward boundaries do not fully align with constituency boundaries.

    Party leader Nigel Farage shared pictures on X over the weekend showing Reform activists campaigning in Makerfield.

    Josh SimonsUK Parliament

    Makerfield MP, Labour's Josh Simons, announced he was standing down last week - saying he wanted to make way for Andy Burnham

  3. Streeting's EU comments 'a bit odd' - Nandy

    Culture, Media and Sport Secretary Lisa NandPA Media

    Culture, Media and Sport Secretary Lisa Nandy was asked about Streeting's comments on Sunday

    The UK's membership of the European Union looks set to become a key issue in the Makerfield by-election - and a possible Labour leadership contest.

    As Joe Pike just reported, Streeting said in a speech on Saturday the UK should "one day" rejoin the EU, which he described as a "catastrophic mistake".

    He said leaving the EU left the UK "less wealthy, less powerful and less in control than at any point before the Industrial Revolution".

    "The biggest economic opportunity we have is on our doorstep. We need a new special relationship with the EU, because Britain's future lies with Europe – and one day back in the European Union," he added.

    Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy on Sunday described Streeting's call to rejoin the EU as "a bit odd".

    She agreed the UK should not have left the EU but does not "really understand why the sudden focus on Europe".

  4. Brexit back on the agenda as Burnham prepares to take on Reform

    Joe Pike
    Political correspondent

    Andy Burnham and Wes StreetingPA Media

    To win in Makerfield - an area that supported Brexit in 2016 - Andy Burnham would have to beat Reform. The by-election date is not confirmed, although could take place on 18 June

    Allies of the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, have criticised his Labour leadership rival - Wes Streeting - for saying that "Britain's future lies with Europe - and one day, back in the European Union".

    They tell the BBC the former health secretary’s intervention was unhelpful because highlighting the issue of Brexit could make it more difficult for Burnham to beat Reform in the forthcoming by-election in Makerfield in Greater Manchester.

    Winning the seat would allow Burnham to challenge Keir Starmer and become prime minister.

    In 2024, Labour’s general election manifesto promised that there would be no return to the EU single market, the customs union, or freedom of movement.

    If either Andy Burnham or Wes Streeting were to succeed Sir Keir Starmer, the UK would have a prime minister who supported rejoining the EU at some point in the future. Over the weekend both men reaffirmed that position, but Streeting did it far more whole-heartedly.

    He said in a speech that Brexit was a catastrophic mistake and that one day the UK should rejoin the EU.

    Allies of Burnham believe that intervention was unhelpful, since it highlights an issue the Greater Manchester mayor wants to avoid in the by-election. He faces a battle to beat Reform in a leave-supporting area.

    Yet Burnham said in an interview on Saturday that "in the long-term there was a case" for rejoining the EU, although he wasn’t advocating that during this campaign.

    A spokesperson for Streeting told the BBC that he had always been a pro-European, and the party shouldn’t fear debate or ideas.