Andy Burnham States UK Net Migration Must Decrease Further After New ONS Figures

Andy Burnham, campaigning for the Makerfield by-election, has declared that UK net migration 'needs to fall further'. This statement follows new Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures released on Thursday, showing that migration added 171,000 people to the UK's population last year – the lowest level since 2012, excluding the Covid pandemic. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has acknowledged 'more to do' on the issue.

Burnham, the current Greater Manchester mayor, expressed support for the 'broad thrust' of Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood's proposals to restrict permanent settlement for migrants. Mahmood argues these changes are 'fair' and necessary to avoid a 'drain on our public finances'. However, some Labour MPs, including Angela Rayner, have criticised the retrospective nature of these plans as 'un-British' and 'moving the goalposts'. The Home Office projects that without changes, approximately 1.6 million individuals could settle between 2026 and 2030.

Separately, Burnham confirmed a change in his stance on single-sex spaces, now accepting the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) guidance that such spaces should be based on biological sex. This aligns with a Supreme Court ruling on the definition of 'woman' under the Equality Act. Burnham admitted his position had evolved, stating he 'followed the debate as it's gone along over the years'. He emphasised that the ruling should not be a 'victory over other people' and that 'marginalised people should not be marginalised further'.

Burnham's campaign in Makerfield is widely viewed as a precursor to a potential leadership challenge against Sir Keir Starmer, especially given Labour's recent electoral performance. Sir Keir, who will campaign for Burnham, characterises the Makerfield contest as a 'straight fight between Labour and Reform'. Reform UK's candidate, Robert Kenyon, has claimed Labour takes local voters 'for granted', with 'safe seats… massively under threat'.