### [2026-05-14](/feed/2026/05/14/index.md)

##### 2026 United Kingdom government crisis
# Burnham confirms he has requested the permission of the National Executive Committee to stand in the upcoming Makerfield by-election. 




### Sources:

1. [BBC News](https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cwy21gpr1kzt)
2. [Bloomberg](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-05-14/burnham-s-path-to-challenge-starmer-opens-as-mp-to-quit)

### Related:

1. [Josh Simons steps down as MP for Makerfield to trigger a by-election for Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham to run for a seat in parliament. Burnham is widely considered the favourite candidate to replace Starmer in the event of a Labour Party leadership election. ](/feed/2026/05/14/josh-simons-steps-down-as-mp-for-makerfield-to-trigger-a-by-election-for-greater-manchester-mayor-andy-burnham-to-run-fo.md) _Context: 2026 United Kingdom government crisis_
2. [Wes Streeting resigns as the United Kingdom's Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, saying he has "lost confidence" in prime minister Keir Starmer following the recent local elections. ](/feed/2026/05/14/wes-streeting-resigns-as-the-united-kingdom-s-secretary-of-state-for-health-and-social-care-saying-he-has-lost-confide.md) _Context: 2026 United Kingdom government crisis_
3. [British prime minister Keir Starmer tells his cabinet he has "no intention" of resigning after several ministers and more than 90 Labour Party MPs call on him to resign or set a timetable for a new party leader to be elected later this year. ](/feed/2026/05/12/british-prime-minister-keir-starmer-tells-his-cabinet-he-has-no-intention-of-resigning-after-several-ministers-and-mor.md) _Context: 2026 United Kingdom government crisis_
4. [Four ministers resign following Starmer's refusal to resign, namely Zubir Ahmed, Alex Davies-Jones, Miatta Fahnbulleh, and Jess Phillips. ](/feed/2026/05/12/four-ministers-resign-following-starmer-s-refusal-to-resign-namely-zubir-ahmed-alex-davies-jones-miatta-fahnbulleh-a.md) _Context: 2026 United Kingdom government crisis_