Wes Streeting allies to campaign for Andy Burnham in Makerfield by-election

Melanie Ward and Gordon McKee have said they will be in the constituency to support the Greater Manchester Mayor’s bid to return to the House of Commons.

The pair resigned from government aide roles to call for Sir Keir Starmer to resign last week, with former health secretary Mr Streeting following suit afterwards.

It comes after Mr Burnham’s allies accused Mr Streeting of trying to derail the mayor’s campaign for No10 by pledging to undo Brexit.

Mr Burnham was selected as the by-election candidate for Makerfield, which heavily voted for Brexit, on Tuesday.

Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy MP Ms Ward said: “I’ll be campaigning for Andy Burnham in the by-election. I hope that all of our MPs will be.

“We need Labour’s top talent around the table so that our government can make the biggest possible difference to the lives of our constituents.”

Glasgow South MP Mr McKee said he “will be going to campaign for him”.

They are two of several Scottish Labour MPs who will campaign for Mr Burnham, even though it is extremely likely he will challenge the Prime Minister if he is elected.

Brian Leishman, Irene Campbell, Euan Stainbank and Douglas McAllister have all said they will go to the Greater Manchester constituency.

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Alloa and Grangemouth MP Mr Leishman said: “This by-election is incredibly important because it will tell us many things.

“Can Andy Burnham and Labour conquer the growing despair that is all consuming for so many people who have been let down by decades of political inaction, and who are having their heads now turned by Reform?

“Can Labour win back the working class communities we should always represent?

Read more: Keir Starmer under more threat as Andy Burnham finds route back to Commons

“It is not hyperbole to say that the future of the Labour Party is under threat. If we do not change course and go back to our traditional values and tackle the societal and economic problems that are making life so hard for millions of people then we are facing wipeout at the next General Election.

“The recent results in Scotland, Wales and England show public opinion. We have to change, we have to do better.

“I’ll be going to Makerfield to fight for that change.”

Falkirk MP Mr Stainbank said: ”Burnham is a pragmatic, experienced and effective leader who would be an excellent candidate for Makerfield and my favoured candidate for PM. I will campaign for him in my limited spare time as my focus remains entirely on Falkirk’s priorities.”

West Dunbartonshire MP McAllister signed the letter saying the Prime Minister should stay in post and that there shouldn’t be a leadership contest - but he will still campaign for Mr Burnham.

The by-election has been called after sitting MP Josh Simons resigned to make way for Mr Bunrham.

Mr McAllister said: “I will of course be joining the Makerfield by election campaign, on the basis that I want the MP for Makerfield to be Labour and not Reform.

“But it is worth remembering that the outgoing MP was Labour.

“I help in all by elections, that wont be changing. The two Scottish by elections shouldn’t be forgotten about.

“Turning to the bigger picture, it’s clear from recent polling that Wes Streeting’s campaign to be PM is done.

“Andy Burnham is promising to ‘change Labour’. That sounds pretty fundamental.

“Time will tell, but I do like his pledge to transfer power and funding from bloated central government to malnourished local councils. I hope that includes Scotland.”