Andy Burnham Calls for Further Reductions in UK Net Migration After Latest ONS Figures

Andy Burnham, Labour's by-election candidate for Makerfield, has asserted that UK net migration "needs to fall further", citing concerns raised by constituents. His comments follow new Office for National Statistics (ONS) data which revealed net migration, the difference between people entering and leaving the country, reduced to 171,000 last year—its lowest level since 2012, excluding the pandemic period.

The Greater Manchester mayor expressed support for the "broad thrust" of Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood's plans to make it more difficult for migrants to secure permanent residency in the UK. Mahmood has defended these changes as "fair" and necessary to prevent a "drain on our public finances." However, some Labour MPs, including former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, have criticised the retrospective nature of the proposals as "un-British."

Burnham also addressed his evolving stance on single-sex spaces, stating he now accepts the Supreme Court ruling that the definition of a woman under the Equality Act should be based on biological sex. He emphasised that this implementation should not further marginalise vulnerable groups. This represents a shift from his previous position, where he suggested only a "small minority" had issues with trans women in women's facilities.

Burnham is contesting the Makerfield by-election, widely seen as a potential precursor to a challenge for the Labour leadership against Sir Keir Starmer. Sir Keir has faced scrutiny following Labour's recent electoral performance, though he continues to defy calls for his resignation. Reform UK candidate Robert Kenyon, who came second in 2024, is also campaigning, stating Makerfield is not merely a "stepping stone" and that Labour has taken local voters "for granted."