Andy Burnham's Win in Makerfield Opens Path to Change UK Prime Minister
Labour's Andy Burnham won the by-election in Makerfield, securing a parliamentary seat and the opportunity to challenge current party leader and Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Labour politician Andy Burnham, previously the Mayor of Greater Manchester, won the by-election in the Makerfield constituency in northwest England on Thursday. He received 24,927 votes, defeating the candidate from Nigel Farage's populist Reform UK party, who got 15,696 votes.
This victory grants Burnham a seat in Parliament, enabling him to fulfill his pledge to run for the Labour Party leadership and challenge incumbent leader and Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Since Labour holds a majority in Parliament, a new leader would automatically become head of government.
In his victory speech, Burnham called the result a "turning point" in British politics and warned party members that this is the last chance to change course. He has previously criticized "four decades of failed neoliberal economics" and advocated for nationalization of key public services. Polls show the 56-year-old Burnham is the most popular Labour politician.
To trigger a leadership contest, at least one-fifth of Labour MPs must support it. About a quarter have already stated that Starmer should resign. He is considered the most unpopular prime minister in polling history, the party suffered heavy losses in recent local elections, and several ministers have resigned in protest.
An anonymous MP said after the election that Burnham's win makes Starmer's departure inevitable; the only question is timing and whether Starmer will resign or be ousted. If Starmer is replaced, the UK would have its seventh prime minister in ten years, a record frequency of leadership change in nearly two centuries.
Burnham said his first act as a newly elected MP would be to visit a pub to celebrate his victory with a pint of beer.
