Streeting backs Burnham for return to Westminster, saying he is Labour’s best chance of winning byelection – UK politics live

Back Tories to prevent ‘SNP patsy’ winning Aberdeen byelection, says Findlay

Meanwhile in Scotland, a byelection will soon be triggered following the resignation of former SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn, who now sits in Holyrood.

Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay has urged voters to back his party in a Westminster byelection to prevent an “SNP patsy” winning.

Findlay visited Aberdeen on Friday, just 24 hours after former SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn resigned his Aberdeen South seat following his election to Holyrood.

The Scottish Tories are confident of a win and are understood to be prepared to throw substantial resources at the race, with MSP Douglas Lumsden seeking the party’s nomination.

Speaking after a visit to AJT Engineering in the city, Findlay said: “I’m here today because we want to win this byelection.

“It’s a straight fight between the SNP and the Scottish Conservatives.

“If you want a pro-oil and gas MP representing this area in the House of Commons, or if you want an SNP patsy who won’t speak up for the industry – that’s the clear choice.”

The Tories will look to turn the byelection into a referendum on oil and gas, with Findlay and UK leader Kemi Badenoch seeking to champion the sector which provides thousands of jobs in the north east of Scotland.

Labour pressure group urges party to allow Burnham to run in Makerfield

Labour pressure group Mainstream have urged the party to allow Andy Burnham to seek selection as its candidate in Makerfield.

The group describe themselves as “radical realists” and in opposition to the “populist right” said the decision would be the best way of showing Labour were putting “country before party”.

The group’s interim council said in a statement: “Uniting behind the strongest possible candidate and running a positive, hopeful campaign with an offer of transformative change at its heart is how Labour will earn the kind permission to continue representing the people of Makerfield in parliament.

“That is why we hope Labour’s National Executive Committee will ensure Makerfield CLP is free to choose from the widest possible field of candidates in this by-election, a field that should clearly include Andy Burnham.

The Greens are going to campaign for the upcoming Makerfield byelection, complicating Andy Burnham’s potential route back to parliament against what is expected to be a strong Reform UK challenge.

A statement from the Greens said candidate selection was in process and that the party had learned from its win in another Greater Manchester seat in February, when they overcame a 13,000 Labour majority in Gorton and Denton.

Labour has a smaller majority of just over 5,000 in Makerfield, where Reform came second in the 2024 election. The sitting MP, Josh Simons, announced on Thursday that he would stand down, saying he wanted Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor, to replace him.

A Green spokesperson said: “We are looking forward to the campaign. We’ve learned from our campaigning and wins in Gorton and Denton and the recent local elections, and we’ve shown we can beat Reform.”

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Andy Burnham has emerged, looking in good spirits as he’s pictured on his morning run in Warrington, Cheshire.

Donald Trump has given his two cents on whether Keir Starmer can survive as prime minister.

He said Starmer was in trouble because of “energy and immigration”.

Speaking to reporters on board Air Force One following his trip to China, the US president said: “He’s very bad on energy. He should open up the North Sea. He’s got a goldmine and he should open up oil in the North Sea. And he doesn’t. They have a tremendous value.”

When asked again whether Starmer could survive as prime minister, Trump said “it’s a tough thing” and reverted back to speaking about the North Sea and windmills.

“Unless he can straighten out immigration, where he’s weak, and if he doesn’t start drilling, stop with the windmills all over the place that are causing havoc … most expensive form of energy. They kill the birds. They’re unsightly. They’re ruining the landscape. If he doesn’t stop with the windmills … he’s got to open up the North Sea,” he said.

Trump declined to answer when asked whether Starmer should quit, saying: “I think he’s a nice man actually.”

But he did criticise Starmer again for refusing to join the US and Israel in striking Iran, claiming the war was now “sort of finished militarily … probably 70-75%”.

Joanne Thomas, the general secretary of Usdaw, said her union would back Andy Burnham’s Westminster bid.

Thomas, who also chairs the Tulo group of Labour-affiliated trade unions, said:

There is a consensus building that it would be wrong for members in Makerfield to not have the opportunity to select Andy Burnham as their candidate for the Makerfield byelection.

Therefore, Usdaw’s NEC representatives have decided they will vote for the Greater Manchester mayor to be allowed to seek selection as a parliamentary candidate.

Usdaw has two representatives on Labour’s national executive committee (NEC), including one who sat on the officers committee that blocked Burnham from contesting the Gorton and Denton byelection in February, according to PA.

Labour’s NEC officer committee, which will make the decision on whether Andy Burnham can stand in the Makerfield byelection, will meet this weekend, according to Sky News.

There were reports suggesting the 10-person officers’ group could meet today, but Sky News has reported it is likely to happen over the weekend, although it is unclear exactly when.

Labour’s ruling national executive committee will hold its next full meeting on Tuesday.

Earlier, Labour’s deputy leader, Lucy Powell, said she had it on good authority that there will be “absolutely no attempt to stop” Burnham from standing.

The Press Association has reported that a byelection in Makerfield could cost the taxpayer up to £226,000, the most the area’s returning officer can claim from the Treasury to cover the cost of running the poll.

The cost of a mayoral byelection in Greater Manchester would run into the millions, with the 2024 mayoral election costing the taxpayer £4.7m.

Former health secretary Wes Streeting has voiced his support for Andy Burnham to compete in the Makerfield byelection, describing him as one of Labour’s “best players on the pitch”.

In a post on X, Streeting, a potential Labour leadership challenger, said:

We need our best players on the pitch. There is no doubt that Andy Burnham is one of them.

The Makerfield byelection will be tough. Votes will need to be earned.

Andy is the best chance of winning and that should override factional advantage or propping up one person.

If successful, Burnham is widely expected to challenge Keir Starmer for the party leadership.

Eleven foreign far-right activists have been banned from coming to the UK ahead of tomorrow’s march by supporters of Tommy Robinson, as the prime minister said there was a “fight for the soul of the country”.

Downing Street said Keir Starmer was taking action to “protect British communities from vile hate” amid bans on foreign activists including the US-based extremist Valentina Gomez.

Tens of thousands are expected to attend the self-styled “Unite the Kingdom” march promoted by Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley Lennon.

Visiting the Metropolitan police’s command and control special operations room today, Starmer said:

We’re in a fight for the soul of this country, and the Unite the Kingdom march this weekend is a stark reminder of exactly what we are up against. Its organisers are peddling hatred and division, plain and simple.

We will block those coming into the UK who seek to incite hatred and violence. For anyone who sets out to wreak havoc on our streets, to intimidate or threaten anyone, you can expect to face the full force of the law.

My government will always champion peaceful protest but will act decisively against hatred. We all have a responsibility to speak out against those spouting vile divisive views wherever we see it.

We are a country built on decency, fairness and respect, at our best when people from different backgrounds come together in common purpose. That is what we must fight for.

Starmer met police chiefs earlier this morning. Downing Street said that he “made clear he recognises that the majority expected to attend are law-abiding citizens, who want to protest peacefully, and urged everyone attending a protest to act with decency and respect”.

Tomorrow is expected to be one of the busiest days of the year when it comes to policing in London. Many are expected to attend a pro-Palestine protest, while there will also be a presence by anti-fascist protesters organised by Stand Up to Racism.

Keir Starmer spent the morning visiting a south London police station, where he met London mayor Sadiq Khan and Metropolitan police commissioner Mark Rowley ahead of major protests taking place in the capital tomorrow.