Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham has confirmed his intention to stand in a by-election, after MP Josh Simons stood down, triggering a by-election.
Simon’s decision allows Burnham to make a bid to stand in the Makerfield seat, in Greater Manchester, which Labour holds with a majority, and allows him a path back to parliament.
And ultimately a path to potentially becoming Labour leader.
Burnham was previously blocked by the party’s governing body from standing in a by-election in Gorton and Denton in February. However ITV News understands No 10 will not seek to block him from standing as a candidate in Makerfield.
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