It’s another devastating blow to Keir Starmer.
GB News was paused for a breaking update on Andy Burnham (Image: Getty)
GB News came to a halt for a breaking announcement on Andy Burnham in a fresh blow to Keir Starmer. MP Josh Simons has resigned his seat in the hopes of allowing Burnham back to parliament. It comes as Wes Streeting resigned as health secretary and is expected to launch his leadership bid.
Reacting to the breaking update, GB News presenter Tom Harwood said: “What a day it has been. Within the last hour, the next dramatic turn in what has been a ruckus five-day period. “Now we know that the MP Josh Simons has resigned his seat in an attempt to bring Andy Burnham back to Parliament.” He went on to highlight the various “hurdles” that Burnham must overcome before this can happen.
The presenter explained: “Technically, a member of parliament can’t resign their seat unless they are appointed to another role. The chancellor has to appoint John Simons to one of the two roles that are traditionally used to allow the resignation of an MP.”
“But after that, there are so many more questions. When will this by-election be? That’s in the gift of the chief whip. Will Andy Burnham be allowed by the Labour Party NEC to stand for the shortlist, for then the local party in Makerfield to select him?”
He added that Sir Keir was one of the people who voted against Burnham returning to parliament, questioning whether he would change his mind.
Harwood admitted the biggest question hanging over the contest is whether Labour can realistically hold the seat after Reform swept every council seat across the wider Wigan area in last week’s local elections.
While Nigel Farage has made clear Reform UK will throw everything at winning the seat, it is becoming increasingly obvious that Burnham is rapidly building momentum within the Labour Party.
Harwood added: “It’s not going to be an easy path for Andy Burnham, but whilst that path looks treacherous for him, it does look like he is building up momentum within the Labour Party.
“We know 100 or so Labour MPs have already called for Keir Starmer to go. I wouldn’t be surprised if over the course of this evening, we start to see many of those MPs start declaring for potential candidates.”
If Burnham returns to Westminster as an MP, it would allow him to stand for the Labour leadership and potentially become prime minister.