Reform to crush Burnham's leadership bid as party 'will make history' in Makerfield by-election, Richard Tice tells LBC
The Reform deputy leader said his party will campaign heavily in an upcoming by-election in Makerfield after MP Josh Simons stood down
Reform UK will throw everything at an upcoming by-election to stop Andy Burnham from becoming an MP, Richard Tice told LBC.
Listen to this article
Speaking to Nick Ferrari at Breakfast, the Reform deputy leader said his party will campaign heavily in an upcoming by-election in Makerfield after MP Josh Simons stood down, clearing the way for Mr Burnham to return to Westminster and challenge Sir Keir Starmer for the Labour leadership.
“I'm not in charge of the selection process, but it will be very rapid. And the campaign will be all about vote Reform. Make Burnham history, because he has to resign also as mayor of Greater Manchester,” Mr Tice told Nick.
If Reform wins, it will be a devastating blow to Mr Burnham’s leadership hopes as the Manchester Mayor currently holds no seat in Parliament - a requirement for standing as leadership candidate.
“We want him to be a part of history as opposed to coming back into Parliament,” Mr Tice said.
Read more: Starmer's battle begins: PM challenged as Burnham and Streeting begin bids for takeover
It follows similar comments made by Reform leader Nigel Farage, who said “will throw absolutely everything” at the Makerfield by-election.
While Burnham is one of the frontrunners to replace Sir Keir, his victory is far from assured after Reform hoovered up votes in the area last week in the local elections.
Confirming his intention to stand in Makerfield, Mr Burnham wrote on X: "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."
He added: "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."Mr Burnham was previously blocked from standing in the Gorton and Denton by-election earlier this year by Labour's National Executive Committee (NEC).
He had required formal permission from the NEC to run as Labour's candidate for the Parliamentary seat, but the ten-person panel voted eight to one against him.
Should he win, he may have to contest with Wes Streeting, who resigned as Health Secretary on Thursday.
However, it is not yet clear whether he would have the 81 Labour MPs needed to announce a formal challenge against the Prime Minister.
Mr Streeting said on Friday Mr Burnham is “the best chance of winning” the Makerfield by-election for Labour.
He said “that should override factional advantage or propping up one person”.