Andy Burnham wins Makerfield by-election

Andy Burnham has won a special election in the British parliament, paving the way for him to challenge Prime Minister Keir Starmer for the party leadership.

Burnham, Labour’s former Greater Manchester mayor, won nearly 55% of the vote in the Makerfield election in north-west England, defeating the Reform UK party by more than 9,000 votes.

Burnham could trigger a leadership challenge against Starmer next week after he is officially sworn in as a Member of Parliament.

Burnham, a leading figure on the party’s left, vowed to put neglected communities at the center of his politics, saying in his victory speech that Makerfield was a “touchstone” rather than a “stepping stone”.

Burnham appeared to lay the groundwork for her leadership bid in her victory acceptance speech.

Obama said winning provided “a chance to build a new politics based on unity and hope” and an opportunity “to move away from the path that has led us to the kind of divided, dark politics we see in the United States,” adding that “we need to get the country back on the right track.”

This is an evolving story. Check back for updates.