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UK parliamentary election, key to possible Burnham leadership bid, set for June 18

By Reuters Reuters
A view of a welcoming sign, ahead of the Makerfield by-election, triggered by Labour MP Josh Simons, who resigned as a minister in March, in Ashton-in-Makerfield, Britain, May 20, 2026. REUTERS/Temilade Adelaja
A view of a welcoming sign, ahead of the Makerfield by-election, triggered by Labour MP Josh Simons, who resigned as a minister in March, in Ashton-in-Makerfield, Britain, May 20, 2026. REUTERS/Temilade Adelaja Temilade Adelaja Reuters

LONDON - An election for a seat in Britain's parliament, set to be contested by possible Labour Party leadership candidate Andy Burnham, will take place on June 18, the local council in northern England said in a notice on Wednesday.

Burnham, seen as a challenger to embattled Prime Minister Keir Starmer, would need to win the Makerfield seat near Manchester before launching any formal leadership challenge.

He faces stiff opposition from the populist Reform UK party, led by Nigel Farage.

Starmer's Labour Party performed poorly in May local elections, triggering calls from a significant bloc of his lawmakers for him to quit.

Many of those are looking to Burnham, currently Mayor of Greater Manchester and an advocate of a more left-wing approach, to revive the party's fortunes.

Another possible candidate is former health minister Wes Streeting, who quit saying he had lost confidence in the prime minister.

(Reporting by William James, Editing by Sam Tabahriti)

A woman watches a real estate office offert ahead of the Makerfield by-election, triggered by Labour MP Josh Simons, who resigned as a minister in March, in Ashton-in-Makerfield, Britain, May 20, 2026. REUTERS/Temilade Adelaja
A woman watches a real estate office offert ahead of the Makerfield by-election, triggered by Labour MP Josh Simons, who resigned as a minister in March, in Ashton-in-Makerfield, Britain, May 20, 2026. REUTERS/Temilade Adelaja Temilade Adelaja Reuters
People walk along the high street, ahead of the Makerfield by-election, triggered by Labour MP Josh Simons, who resigned as a minister in March, in Ashton-in-Makerfield, Britain, May 20, 2026. REUTERS/Temilade Adelaja
People walk along the high street, ahead of the Makerfield by-election, triggered by Labour MP Josh Simons, who resigned as a minister in March, in Ashton-in-Makerfield, Britain, May 20, 2026. REUTERS/Temilade Adelaja Temilade Adelaja Reuters
A St. George's flag is displayed at a house ahead of the Makerfield by-election, triggered by Labour MP Josh Simons, who resigned as a minister in March, in Ashton-in-Makerfield, Britain, May 20, 2026. REUTERS/Temilade Adelaja
A St. George's flag is displayed at a house ahead of the Makerfield by-election, triggered by Labour MP Josh Simons, who resigned as a minister in March, in Ashton-in-Makerfield, Britain, May 20, 2026. REUTERS/Temilade Adelaja Temilade Adelaja Reuters
A woman walks with a child past a Union Jack flag ahead of the Makerfield by-election, triggered by Labour MP Josh Simons, who resigned as a minister in March, in Ashton-in-Makerfield, Britain, May 20, 2026. REUTERS/Temilade Adelaja
A woman walks with a child past a Union Jack flag ahead of the Makerfield by-election, triggered by Labour MP Josh Simons, who resigned as a minister in March, in Ashton-in-Makerfield, Britain, May 20, 2026. REUTERS/Temilade Adelaja Temilade Adelaja Reuters
People walk along the high street ahead of the Makerfield by-election, triggered by Labour MP Josh Simons, who resigned as a minister in March, in Ashton-in-Makerfield, Britain, May 20, 2026. REUTERS/Temilade Adelaja
People walk along the high street ahead of the Makerfield by-election, triggered by Labour MP Josh Simons, who resigned as a minister in March, in Ashton-in-Makerfield, Britain, May 20, 2026. REUTERS/Temilade Adelaja Temilade Adelaja Reuters
People walk along the high street, ahead of the Makerfield by-election, in Ashton-in-Makerfield, Britain, May 20, 2026. REUTERS/Temilade Adelaja
People walk along the high street, ahead of the Makerfield by-election, in Ashton-in-Makerfield, Britain, May 20, 2026. REUTERS/Temilade Adelaja Temilade Adelaja Reuters

Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect.

This story was originally published May 20, 2026 at 8:33 AM.

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