Andy Burnham wins huge majority in Makerfield byelection, paving way for Starmer leadership challenge | Makerfield byelection
Andy Burnham won the crucial Makerfield by-election with a landslide, paving the way to challenge Keir Starmer for the premiership.
The Greater Manchester mayor beat Reform UK candidate Robert Kenyon by 9,231 votes, with his new hard-line Restore Britain party coming a distant third.
Labor received 54% of the vote to Reform UK’s 35%, while Restore Britain received 7%. Participation was 58.75%; 45,510 votes were cast, an increase of six points compared to the general elections.
In his victory speech, Burnham said the result “could be a turning point” and that people had “voted for change, voted for more power for the north and everywhere Westminster has forgotten”.
He said this was Labour’s “last chance for change”, adding: “There will be no second chance, but there is a chance now to build a new politics of unity and hope, moving away from tonight’s result, the path that has led us to the kind of divided politics we have seen in the US.”
“We need to address this now and get this country back on the right track, bring people back together and make things run smoothly.”
Following the most important by-election in modern British history, Burnham is expected to run for No 10 if a formal leadership contest is triggered in the coming days.
Burnham’s 6,100 votes more than Reform and Restore combined will greatly enhance her reputation for placing 10th among Labor MPs and members.
But the Guardian revealed on Thursday that his allies believe Starmer should be given time to set a timetable for his departure, and some in his team are discouraging ministers from resigning as soon as this weekend to stop the government falling into chaos.
The “King in the North”, who was first elected to parliament almost exactly 25 years ago and served in the governments of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, will return to Westminster nine years after leaving.
Speaking before hundreds of applauding media and supporters at the Life convention center in Wigan, Burnham said Makerfield “will never be a stepping stone for me, instead it will be my touchstone: a Makerfield test at the heart of British politics will now ensure justice is given to the places that Westminster has neglected.”
Voters told him they felt “neglected” and that “the country works for other people and other places, but not here.”
Burnham added: “That changes tonight. This result changes that. This result will deliver a country that works fairly for everyone. People here voted for change, voted for more power for the north and voted for everywhere forgotten by Westminster. Now let’s give it back to them.”
His win means Labor faces another tough fight against Reform UK; this time to retain the mayoralty of Greater Manchester. The by-elections, in which 2 million voters will participate, will be one of the largest by-elections in British political history and are expected to be held on July 30.
The Makerfield by-election was triggered when then-Labour MP Josh Simons agreed to stand down last month to allow Burnham to contest the seat and challenge Starmer’s troubled leadership.
The Prime Minister has faced calls to resign over the disastrous appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador and subsequent elections in May in which Labor lost more than 1,200 local councilors and control of the Welsh Senedd.
Hours before voting began, Burnham said the outcome of the by-election would change British politics for years to come.
Burnham said his proposal would “make life more affordable for people again, put a little more money in British people’s pockets, give people a little more breathing room in their daily lives”. The result, he said, would be “a vote to strengthen the north of England”.
Starmer said he will not leave his post and intends to fight any challenge.
The Prime Minister also faces a looming threat from former health secretary Wes Streeting, who has indicated he is ready to launch a Labor leadership contest as early as next week.
