Andy Burnham will be Labour's candidate for the Makerfield by-election, the party has announced.Mr Burnham said he was "proud and humbled" to be selected, and he vowed to ensure the voices of people in Makerfield are "heard loud and clear".It is understood the Greater Manchester mayor was the only person shortlisted for selection by Labour's ruling National Executive Committee, bypassing a vote by the local party.The decision sets up a contest between Mr Burnham and Reform UK's Robert Kenyon, a

Andy Burnham will be Labour's candidate for the Makerfield by-election, the party has announced.Mr Burnham said he was "proud and humbled" to be selected, and he vowed to ensure the voices of people in Makerfield are "heard loud and clear".It is understood the Greater Manchester mayor was the only person shortlisted for selection by Labour's ruling National Executive Committee, bypassing a vote by the local party.The decision sets up a contest between Mr Burnham and Reform UK's Robert Kenyon, a local plumber who contested the seat for the party in 2024.If he returns to Parliament, Mr Burnham is widely expected to challenge Sir Keir Starmer for the Labour leadership, but the Prime Minister has insisted he will not "walk away" from Downing Street.