LONDON (Realist English). Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, secured a resounding victory in the Makerfield by-election, winning a parliamentary seat and clearing the path for a possible challenge to Prime Minister Keir Starmer for the leadership of the Labour Party.
In his victory speech, Burnham declared that Labour had received a “last chance to change,” warning that “there will be no second chance.”
Decisive Victory Over Reform UK
Burnham won 24,927 votes (54%), defeating Reform UK candidate Robert Kenyon by 9,231 votes. Turnout was 58.75% — more than six percentage points higher than in the 2024 general election in the same constituency. Although Makerfield is considered a “safe” Labour seat (the party has held it for 120 years), Burnham’s victory is notable because just a few weeks earlier, in the May local elections, Reform UK had dominated in the same towns.
As BBC political editor Chris Mason noted, Burnham “won, and won by a large margin.”
‘Politics Isn’t Working’: Burnham Calls for Change
In his victory speech, Burnham said his win could be a “turning point” for the country. “Everyone knows politics isn’t working,” he said. “Everyone feels the country is not where it should be. Tonight could, just could, be a turning point.”
Addressing his party, Burnham said: “This is the last chance to change. We must hear that. We must act, and we must get it right. There will be no second chance.” He called on Labour to build “new politics based on unity and hope” and to turn away from a path leading to “divided, dark politics” like that seen in the United States.
Burnham also promised Makerfield voters that the constituency “will never be a stepping stone for me, but will be my foundation.”
“The Makerfield test at the centre of British politics ensures that places neglected by Westminster will now get justice,” he said.
What’s Next: The Battle for Party Leadership
Now that Burnham is back in Parliament (for the first time in nearly a decade), he can officially challenge Starmer. Under Labour Party rules, an MP can challenge the leadership with the support of one-fifth of the parliamentary party (at least 81 MPs).
Starmer has already congratulated Burnham on his victory but said he has no intention of resigning. However, as the BBC notes, the prime minister faces a “serious and imminent threat” to his position.
Former cabinet minister Louise Haigh, who ran Burnham’s campaign, called on Starmer to “consider an orderly and managed transition of power.” Former health secretary Wes Streeting is also expected to run in any future contest.
A Warning Signal for Farage
Burnham’s victory dealt a serious blow to Reform UK and its leader Nigel Farage. Makerfield was considered one of Reform’s key targets in this by-election, but the party failed to win even in a constituency where Labour had suffered heavy losses just weeks earlier.
As the Conservative Party noted, “this is a catastrophic result for Reform.”
