Josh Simons, the former Makerfield MP who stepped aside to clear a path for Andy Burnham, has warned that Sir Keir Starmer faces a potentially hostile reception on the doorstep, as tensions within Labour’s traditional heartlands begin to surface ahead of a crucial by-election.
Andy Burnham, the Manchester Mayor, has indicated he intends to position himself for a return to Westminster as part of a broader bid to “save the party” should he secure a seat, fuelling speculation about future leadership ambitions within Labour.
Simons’ decision to step aside in Makerfield was intended to smooth the way for Burnham’s possible parliamentary comeback. The move has already injected an unusual level of political intrigue into a contest Labour is treating as a key test of its standing in former strongholds.
The Prime Minister has publicly declared his “100 per cent” backing for the Labour campaign in the constituency, despite concerns that the by-election could become a flashpoint for wider dissatisfaction within parts of the party’s base.
But Simons suggested that any campaigning visit by Sir Keir Starmer would expose the depth of feeling among voters in the area.
“He’ll have some rough doorsteps. Wiganers don’t hold back on what they think,” he told The Times, adding that constituents would be unlikely to temper their views when confronted directly by the Prime Minister.
His remarks will be read in Westminster as an indication of the political headwinds Labour may face even in areas long considered safe, where economic frustration and political disillusionment have increasingly shaped voter sentiment.
Simons also admitted to having been “frustrated” with the direction of Sir Keir’s government, a rare public airing of discontent from within Labour’s wider orbit at a sensitive moment for the party.
The intervention is likely to heighten scrutiny of Starmer’s leadership style and electoral pitch as Labour seeks to consolidate support in seats where loyalty can no longer be taken for granted.
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