Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleCopy linkJosh Simons, the Labour MP for Makerfield, has announced he will step down from his seat. His resignation paves the way for Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, to potentially return to Parliament. Makerfield is a historically strong Labour constituency, having been held by the party continuously since its creation in 1983. Simons, who briefly served as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Digital Government, secured the seat in the 2024 general election with a majority of 5,399 votes. Andy Burnham has confirmed he will seek permission from Labour's ruling body to contest the upcoming by-election. In fullStarmer latest: Burnham seeks to stand in by-election paving way for Labour leadership challengeMore bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in