Burnham's victory in Makerfield by-election casts doubt on Starmer's future
Andy Burnham's decisive win in the Makerfield by-election in the UK is seen as a precursor to a Labour leadership challenge, putting Prime Minister Keir Starmer's position at risk.
The long-awaited by-election in Ashton-in-Makerfield concluded on Thursday with a clear victory for Andy Burnham, an event widely viewed as a potential turning point for the UK's next prime minister.
Burnham, the former mayor of Manchester, secured 24,927 votes, defeating Reform UK candidate Robert Kenyon by over 9,000 votes. In his victory speech early Friday, he stated that people had voted for change and for more power to the north and areas forgotten by Westminster.
The 56-year-old has announced his intention to challenge Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has said he will not step aside. Under Labour Party rules, Burnham needs nominations from 81 Labour MPs (20% of the parliamentary party) plus backing from local branches and trade unions to trigger a leadership contest.
Local residents expressed support for Burnham. Cameron Graham, a 31-year-old factory worker, said he strongly prefers Burnham over Starmer. Howard Bond, a retired sales manager, called Burnham a 'better' prime minister, noting his connection to the community and his articulate nature.
However, some voters, like 74-year-old John Van Dusen, supported Reform UK, voicing frustration over immigration policy. He claimed that Labour and Conservatives have done nothing to stop illegal immigration, despite statistics showing 97% of residents were born in the constituency.
The by-election attracted intense media attention, with journalists from the US, France, Sweden, and Denmark covering the event. Local residents complained about the disruption. Charity shop worker Sue Hailwood described it as 'absolutely horrendous'.
Professor Tim Bale from Queen Mary University of London commented that Starmer is a poor communicator lacking a clear vision, while Burnham can connect with the public and has proven he can beat Nigel Farage's Reform party in a seat where they would normally excel.
The election also involved the Green Party, Liberal Democrats, and the Restore party backed by Elon Musk. However, Reform came second, with others far behind. Pollster Sir John Curtice noted that the UK has become a five-party system, with each party drawing between 17-27% of the vote share, essentially making them all minority parties.
