Andy Burnham Calls for Further Cuts to UK Migration as He Launches Westminster Comeback

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has urged the government to drive net migration even lower, acknowledging voter unease on the issue while positioning himself as a pragmatic voice within Labour ahead of a crucial by-election.

Speaking as he launched his campaign in Makerfield, Burnham welcomed the latest official figures showing net migration had nearly halved from 2024 levels, hitting just 171,000 last year — the lowest since 2012 outside the pandemic period. “The trend is significantly down,” he noted, but added bluntly that migration “needs to fall further.”

Burnham, Labour’s candidate in the Greater Manchester seat, said immigration concerns are coming up regularly on the doorstep. He expressed support for the “broad thrust” of Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s plans to tighten rules on permanent settlement, while stressing the need to “get the balance right” to avoid straining public finances without appearing unfair.

Mahmood’s proposals have sparked internal Labour tensions, with some MPs, including Angela Rayner, criticizing the retrospective elements as “un-British” and shifting the goalposts. Burnham, however, backed the overall direction while highlighting an ongoing consultation.

Shift on Single-Sex Spaces

In a separate development during the campaign, Burnham revealed his views on single-sex spaces have evolved. He now fully accepts the Supreme Court ruling and new EHRC guidance that such spaces — including toilets and changing rooms — should be based on biological sex.

Previously more hands-off on the issue, Burnham admitted his position had changed after closely following the debate. He said he still favors a “live and let live” approach but wants fairness for everyone, warning against further marginalizing vulnerable groups while implementing the law.

High-Stakes By-Election and Labour’s Future

Burnham is widely tipped to win the Makerfield by-election, which could return him to Parliament and immediately fuel speculation about a future leadership challenge to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. At his campaign launch, he framed the contest as a chance to “change Labour” and reconnect the party with its traditional supporters.

Starmer, facing heavy pressure after recent poor election results, plans to campaign for Burnham and has described the race as a direct battle against Reform UK. Reform’s candidate, local councillor and plumber Robert Kenyon, who nearly beat Labour in 2024, warned that “safe seats are massively under threat” as voters feel taken for granted. He appeared alongside Nigel Farage while campaigning in his work van.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch suggested the by-election itself was more about resolving Labour’s internal problems than serving local voters. The Liberal Democrats have selected councillor Jake Austin, while the Greens are choosing a new candidate after their original pick withdrew.

Burnham’s move back to Westminster comes at a turbulent time for Labour. His comments on migration and social issues signal an attempt to appeal to voters concerned about rapid demographic change and cultural shifts, as the party grapples with how to regain trust in its traditional heartlands.