Certain irony in Josh Simons opening the door for Burnhampublished at 18:04 BST

18:04 BST

Brian Wheeler
Reporting from Westminster

There is a certain irony in the fact that Josh Simons has volunteered to end Andy Burnham’s long search for an MP to stand down to give him a chance to get back into Parliament to challenge Keir Starmer.

Before becoming MP for Makerfield, in the north west of England, Simons ran the think tank Labour Together, which was instrumental in Starmer's rise to power.

But he quit as a Cabinet Office minister in February over claims Labour Together had commissioned a report that looked into the background of journalists, saying he had "become a distraction from this government's important work".

Over the weekend, Simons joined the ranks of Labour MPs calling on Starmer to stand down, saying he had “lost the country”.

Now he has emerged as a full-throated cheerleader for Burnham, saying that if the Greater Manchester mayor manages to get elected in his seat he can “drive the change our country is crying out for”.

This is a massive moment for Labourpublished at 17:59 BST

17:59 BST

Henry Zeffman
Chief political correspondent

Josh Simons’ announcement is a massive moment.

Speaking to MPs, ministers and officials from various wings of the party there is a total consensus that it would be very, very hard for Keir Starmer to try to block Andy Burnham from returning to Parliament, as he did earlier this year ahead of the Gorton and Denton by-election.

One minister said to me: “I think Josh has just single-handedly given the Labour Party a route to winning back the trust of the British people.”

I asked them if they were a supporter of Burnham becoming leader. The minister replied: “If he wins [the by-election] we all are.”

Another MP, from the right of the party, said Simons’s decision was “politically brave” and and “allows us to settle the question of if Andy Burnham is the right person for prime minister once and for all.”

Burnham 'only person' to unite Labour, supporter tells BBCpublished at 17:55 BST

17:55 BST

Chris Mason
Political editor

An Andy Burnham supporter in the Common has just told me: "There we go! Clear consensus now across the Party that Andy should be allowed to stand and that the PM should set out a timetable.

"Andy Burnham is the only person who can unite the coalition the Labour Party needs to change the country and beat Reform at the next election.

"This is the way forward that the Party can unite around and the PM should set out an orderly process to deliver it."

Here's Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham's announcement about his intention to run in Makerfield, in full:

I can confirm that I will be requesting the permission of the NEC to stand in the Makerfield by-election.

I grew up in this area and have lived here for 25 years. I care deeply about it and its people. I know they have been let down by national politics. Ten years ago, I decided to leave Westminster.

Why? Because, after 16 years, I came to the conclusion that our national political system does not work for areas like ours. I learnt this fighting its failure to invest in the Wigan borough, for justice for the Hillsborough families and against its treatment of Greater Manchester during the pandemic.

Over the last decade, I have been challenging this failure from the outside and building a new and better way of doing politics. We have built Greater Manchester into the fastest-growing city-region in the UK and put buses back under public control, introducing a £2 fare cap to help people with cost-of-living pressures.

However, there is only so much that can be done from Greater Manchester. Much bigger change is needed at a national level if everyday life is to be made more affordable again.

This is why I now seek people’s support to return to Parliament: to bring the change we have brought to Greater Manchester to the whole of the UK and make politics work properly for people. Millions are struggling and they need the Labour Government to succeed.

It has already made changes to make life better for them in its first two years. After this week, we owe it to people to come back together as a Labour movement, giving the Prime Minister and the Government the space and stability they need as the by-election takes place.

I want to recognise the difficult decision taken by Josh Simons and the sacrifice he and his family are making. I have worked closely with him as Mayor on issues like flooding and illegal waste dumping and have seen first-hand how effective he has been.

He has put the communities of Makerfield first, made a real difference for them and should take great pride in that. Finally, I truly do not take a single vote for granted and will work hard to regain the trust of people in the Makerfield constituency, many of whom have long supported our party but lost faith in recent times.

We will change Labour for the better and make it a party you can believe in again.

More from Andy Burnham.

The Greater Manchester mayor says that he grew up in Makerfield "and have lived here for 25 years. I care deeply about it and its people. I know they have been let down by national politics."

But he says that people need change from "a national level" to make everyday life affordable.

"This is why I now seek people’s support to return to Parliament: to bring the change we have brought to Greater Manchester to the whole of the UK and make politics work properly for people," Burnham writes.

Burnham adds that he wants "to recognise the difficult decision taken by Josh Simons and the sacrifice he and his family are making".

Image source, EPA/Shutterstock

Andy Burnham has just released a statement.

"I can confirm that I will be requesting the permission of the NEC to stand in the Makerfield by-election."

We'll have more on this shortly.

More now from Simons' statement. He says the decision to resign "has not been an easy" one to make.

But the Makerfield MP says that if elected, Burnham could "drive the change our country is crying out for".

"We have lost the trust of those our party was built to serve. It is my unwavering belief that nothing short of urgent, radical, courageous reform will make a difference."

Simons says Labour "has one last chance" to "drive economic growth, secure our borders, reform our state and politics".

"That is the fight. I believe Andy is the one to lead it," he says.

Labour MP Josh Simons has just issued a statement: "Today, I am putting the people I represent and the country I love first and will be resigning as MP for Makerfield.

"I am standing aside so that Andy Burnham can return to his home."

We'll have more on this shortly.

As we've just reported, Starmer has released a letter responding to Wes Streeting's resignation as health secretary.

The prime minister thanks Streeting for his work helping to get Labour elected and as health secretary, praising the NHS’s performance during his tenure.

Pointing to falling waiting lists and other health initiatives, he says: "This is the difference a Labour government makes. This is the change we are delivering."

He acknowledges last week’s "extremely tough" election results and says "everyone in our party is acutely aware that our opponents are more dangerous than ever before".

Starmer frames Labour as taking part in a "battle for the soul of our nation" and says part of that is delivering on "the promises we made to the country, including our promise to turn the page on the chaos that was roundly rejected by the British people at the last general election".

The PM says he's "truly sorry" that Streeting will not continue in his role, but says: "I have no doubt you will continue to play an important role in our party for many years to come.

"I hope we can work together to show that Labour in power can address the problems our opponents exploit, can install hope where they want despair, and can bring people together where they want division."

In his reply to the resignation letter from former Health Secretary Wes Streeting, Prime Minister Keir Starmer says the Labour Party must "deliver on all of the promises we made to the country".

"Thank you for your letter. I am very sorry that you have stepped down from Government," the letter reads.

"We have worked together for many years and I want to thank you for all your hard work in helping to get us back into Government and for all that you have achieved as Health Secretary."

Chris Mason
Political editor

In response to the claims that Streeting is well short of the number to trigger a contest, a supporter of his tells the BBC: "He’s got the numbers.

"He doesn’t believe in stitching up a contest and keeping candidates out of the race.

"He thinks it needs to be a battle of ideas, not a factional stitch up, so he wants Andy to have a chance to declare his intentions."

This is a reference to the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, who needs to find a Westminster seat in order to be a contender.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey is the latest party leader to react to Wes Streeting's resignation this afternoon.

"Perhaps now we'll get a Health Secretary who will take on social care, rather than dodge it because it's hard," he writes on X.

"Who will end corridor care, not preside over its worst ever year. Labour needs to get a grip."

Meanwhile, Plaid Cymru's Westminster leader Liz Saville Roberts also weighed in, saying: "There goes another one. And so the chaos continues."

• You can see how other opposition parties reacted in our earlier post

Image source, Reuters

Away from a potential leadership contest, whoever succeeds Wes Streeting as health secretary is being warned they will face some significant challenges once in office.

Sarah Woolnough, chief executive of the King's Fund think tank, says Streeting has "not stuck around long enough to fix" the NHS - noting that the next health secretary will face "immediate choices" that will shape the health and care system for years to come.

Streeting's resignation comes at a "critical time" for the nation's health and care, says the deputy council chair of the British Medical Association (BMA).

Dr Emma Runswick says in a statement there remains a "very real prospect" of industrial action this year for all primary and secondary care doctors.

That is due to disputes between NHS groups and the government. Runswick says resolving these disputes "must be at the very top of the new health secretary's in-tray".

She's echoed by Henry Gregg, chief executive of the National Pharmacy Association, who says it would be "very damaging" if a financial settlement to pharmacies was delayed by political funding.

Conflicting Labour accounts over size of Streeting's supportpublished at 16:24 BST

16:24 BST

Chris Mason
Political editor

Image source, Getty Images

Some folk, who reckon they have got a grasp of the numbers and opinions among Labour MPs, and are no fans of Wes Streeting, are suggesting he might be nowhere near the 81 MPs he needs to trigger a leadership contest.

One person I’ve spoken to, who has a credible case for having a decent sense of the numbers, claimed they don’t think there are more than 44 committed backers of Streeting.

"The idea you can brief something into reality is for the birds," this person tells me over the phone.

They claim that there would have to be a lot of ministerial resignations for him to get across the line.

To be clear, right now, there are lots of different claims and counterclaims, which are often mutually incompatible.

The MP Allan Gemmell earlier told Radio 4's World at One programme that Streeting does have the numbers.

Both people can’t be right. But it’s an insight into the conversations, plotting, briefing and intrigue within the Labour Party right now.

I’ve asked the Streeting camp for their reaction.

Image source, ITN POOL

Wes Streeting’s resignation marks an opportunity for Labour to “draw a line” under leadership speculation, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson says.

"I fundamentally disagree with the position he’s taken. I’m sad that he’s gone, but I think this is now a chance for us to pause, take a breath as a party and try and draw a line under all of this," she says as she calls Streeting's decision "a real shame".

Asked if she disagrees that there is a vacuum in the vision of the prime minister, she says: "No, I don't."

Phillipson - the first cabinet minister to respond to his departure - says she credits Streeting for delivering "brilliant achievements" as a "brilliant health secretary".

She adds that Starmer has her "full support" and has got "the backing of cabinet", but that the leadership speculation has been "really difficult" and "massively disruptive".

A former Labour Party adviser tells BBC News he does not believe Wes Streeting "has the numbers" to challenge Keir Starmer, describing his resignation as a "ploy" to retain support until next week.

Matthew Torbitt says: "I have a strong suspicion we will see a deal now be done between Wes Streeting and Andy Burnham."

Nick Watt
Political editor, BBC Newsnight

Wes Streeting is unlikely to be on Keir Starmer’s Christmas card list for some time. This is what a Starmer ally has told me: "Wes has failed the most basic rule of politics: he can’t count.

"He never had the numbers. We counted and counted and counted and recounted. The highest number we got for Wes was 44.

"We could not see how he could get higher than that. We knew that, Wes will have known that. So all that stuff from Wes about how he is resigning in the party interest to allow a broad debate is a load of old guff. He never had the numbers.

"So what does Wes do when he doesn’t have the number? He seeks to brief his way out of a difficult position. So his closest ally resigns from the government.

"Then he briefs that the cabinet are turning on Keir. No they’re not. So the government goes on.

"We will appoint a new health secretary. The sad thing is we have a good story to tell today. Good growth [the UK economy grew by 0.6% in the first three months of the year, according to new figures from the ONS]. But nobody is talking about that."

• As a reminder, Streeting would need the backing of 81 Labour MPs to trigger a leadership contest against Starmer

Andy Burnham would face two big barriers in any Labour leadership contestpublished at 15:55 BST

15:55 BST

Jack Fenwick
Political correspondent

Image source, AFP via Getty Images

The reason the timeline to any potential leadership contest is so crucial is because of one man - Andy Burnham.

Burnham has a lot of support among Labour MPs. The so-called soft left of the party seemed to coalesce around him in recent days, but he is not an MP - so right now he would not be eligible to stand in any sort of leadership election.

He would first need to find a seat; and then need to win a parliamentary by-election. He would only take a seat in the north-west of England, so someone would have to step down for him.

That is all going to take time.

I spoke to several Andy Burnham supporters yesterday who told me their understanding was he did have a seat which he could run in and try to become an MP again. We haven't heard what seat that is.

We've heard some speculation that some people have been asked to step aside for him and they've said no.

Any leadership election, if it included Andy Burnham, wouldn't even be able to start until all of that had happened.

There are many parts of the north-west where Reform is now doing very well, where the Green Party is doing very well. It will be difficult. There are two big barriers there to Andy Burnham.

Image source, PA Media

We've been hearing a lot from supporters of newly resigned former Health Secretary Wes Streeting saying he is planning to trigger a leadership challenge to remove Keir Starmer from No 10.

But his is not the only name that has been floated around as a potential contender to the Labour - and the country's - leadership.

One of them is Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham. He is unable to take part in any immediate race as he is currently not an MP, though he may be able to find a seat and convince the party to let him stand. He has strong support from Labour MPs and polls suggest he is the most popular Labour politician with voters.

Earlier today, he pulled out of a regular appearance with the BBC, citing the need for discussions around last week's elections results - this is rare.

The other is former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner. Earlier, she told the Guardian that she has resolved the tax issue that cost her her job in government and is now ready to "play my part" in the anticipated debates about Labour leadership - you can find a reminder on that tax row here.

Like Burnham and Streeting, Rayner has strong support among Labour MPs, although as a Greater Manchester politician on the left, much of her base overlaps with Burnham's.

For a contest to be triggered, one contender would need to have the backing of 81 MPs. After that, other candidates could join the contest if they also have 81 backers - this may make it trickier for politicians who have overlapping support bases.

Others possible contenders include former leader and current Energy SecretaryEd Miliband, Defence minister Al Carns, and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood.

Nick Eardley
Political correspondent, reporting from Ilford North

Image source, PA Media

In the last general election in 2024, Wes Streeting came very close to losing his seat in Ilford North - there were only 500 votes in it.

An independent candidate, who stood partly on the issue of the war in Gaza, came very close to the scalp of a senior cabinet minister.

I was here in Redbridge last week when Streeting told reporters after the local election results that he would back the prime minister - that it was for the whole of the government to show it could change and deliver what it promised at the general election.

Labour held on to control of the local council, despite taking a kicking in other parts of East London.

Streeting argued that this showed that Labour could take the battle for votes to its opponents on the left and on the right, in the case of Reform.

He will use his constituency in his pitch to his party if and when he does launch a leadership campaign, because he would argue that the results here show how Labour can continue to win.