Burnham wins Makerfield byelection with huge majority, setting stage for Starmer challenge
Andy Burnham has secured a landslide victory in the Makerfield byelection, winning 54% of the vote and positioning himself as a potential challenger to Prime Minister Keir Starmer's leadership.
Burnham's commanding win
Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, has won the high-stakes Makerfield byelection with a massive majority. He secured 54% of the vote against Reform UK's Robert Kenyon, who received 35%, while the new hardline Restore Britain party came third with 7%. Burnham's majority was 9,231 votes. Turnout reached 58.75%, six percentage points higher than the general election, with 45,510 votes cast.
A turning point, says Burnham
In his victory speech, Burnham said the result "could be a turning point" and that people had "voted for change, they have voted for more power for the north and everywhere forgotten by Westminster." He described this as Labour's "final chance to change," adding that "there will be no second chance." He called for a new politics based on unity and hope, turning away from division.
Path to a leadership challenge
The result is widely seen as paving the way for a leadership challenge to Keir Starmer. Burnham is expected to mount a bid for Number 10 if a formal contest is triggered soon. The fact that he won 6,100 more votes than Reform and Restore combined strengthens his credentials among Labour MPs and members.
Starmer under pressure
Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces growing calls to resign following the controversial appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador and Labour's loss of over 1,200 local councillors and control of the Welsh Senedd in May. Starmer has said he will not step down and will fight any challenge. However, former health secretary Wes Streeting has indicated he may trigger a leadership contest as early as next week.
The Makerfield by-election's significance
The byelection was triggered when former Labour MP Josh Simons agreed to stand down last month to allow Burnham to contest the seat. Burnham, who served under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, returns to Westminster after nine years. He said Makerfield would be a "touchstone" ensuring fairness for neglected areas. The by-election also sets up another tough contest for Labour in July: the Greater Manchester mayoral by-election, with 2 million voters, one of the largest in British history.
