Andy Burnham’s return to Westminster politics could come at a cost of £5m to Greater Manchester taxpayers, sparking criticism over whether this is the best use of public money during a cost of living crisis.

The Labour mayor, who hopes to stand as the party’s candidate in the Makerfield by-election, has faced sharp questions about the price of a potential by-election for his current role. The seat became vacant after Josh Simons stepped down last week, saying he was making way for Mr Burnham to find a route back to Parliament – a move widely seen as a step towards a future leadership bid.

But the financial implications have dominated the debate. The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) confirmed that Mr Burnham’s re-election in 2024 cost £4,719,754, and a similar sum is expected for any by-election to replace him. With nearly three million voters in the region, Professor Rob Ford of the University of Manchester called it by far the largest by-election Britain has ever seen, with an electorate larger than some EU member states.

Critics argue such spending is unjustified, particularly when local services face pressure. Cheadle MP Tom Morrison, a Liberal Democrat, highlighted that Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport has a repair backlog of £134m. “Last year the ceiling in the maternity ward fell on a mother giving birth, and every few months raw sewage floods the wards in the specialist liver unit,” he said. “They should get a grip, sort their internal issues out, and use the money going on this by-election to better use like fixing our hospital.”

Councillor John Leech, leader of the Lib Dem group at Manchester council, was equally blunt. “While Mancunians struggle to get by in the cost of living crisis, spending £5m of taxpayer money to pay for a parliamentary and mayoral by-election due to Labour incompetence is ludicrous,” he said. “This is Labour’s own doing. They should foot the bill. Not the taxpayer.”

For Oldham residents, the issue is particularly relevant given the borough’s place within Greater Manchester. Any mayoral by-election would directly involve voters in Oldham, and the cost raises questions about funding for local priorities. The Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, is already under pressure after Labour’s poor performance in the local elections on May 7, and this controversy adds further strain.

Mr Burnham made his pitch to become Labour’s candidate for Makerfield at the Great North Investment Summit in Leeds today, arguing that the UK had been on the “wrong path for most of the last 40 years.” His office and the Labour Party have been approached for comment but have not yet responded. The debate highlights the tensions between national ambition and local accountability, with Oldham’s interests at the heart of the Greater Manchester picture.