Burnham wins – Labour mayor Andy Burnham decisively won the Makerfield by-election over Reform UK’s Rob Kenyon, drawing him back into Parliament and putting him in position to challenge embattled Prime Minister Keir Starmer for Labour leadership. Burnham framed the result as
When the votes were counted in Makerfield, they didn’t just change a seat in Parliament—they handed Andy Burnham the most powerful leverage he could have asked for at a time when Keir Starmer is already struggling to hold onto his authority.
Burnham. the current mayor of Greater Manchester and Labour’s candidate for Makerfield. won the special election in northwest England over Rob Kenyon of the anti-immigration party Reform UK. The victory was announced early Friday. and it cements Burnham’s status as the top contender to replace Starmer as leader of the Labour Party and the country.
Burnham won almost 55% of the 45,510 votes counted, finishing more than 9,000 votes ahead of Kenyon. The result also amplifies Burnham’s position because he is the 56-year-old politician dubbed the “King of the North,” now back in contention to challenge for the leadership of Labour.
In his victory speech. Burnham made clear he wants to lead the country. not remain one of the more than 400 Labour lawmakers in the 650-seat House of Commons. “Everyone knows that politics isn’t working,” he said. “Everyone can feel that the country isn’t where it should be. Tonight could, just could, be the turning point.”.
Starmer moved quickly to acknowledge the win. The prime minister, who has previously maintained he will fight any leadership challenge, took to social media to congratulate Burnham, writing on X: “Voters chose Labour’s campaign of hope and optimism over division and hate.”
Burnham’s promise. shaped by his record as mayor of Greater Manchester since 2017. is to repeat his “Manchesterism” pitch on a national scale. He has led regeneration in the city where the Industrial Revolution was forged. On Friday. he said he would work to ensure that “the name Makerfield is forever synonymous with bringing about the change this country needs.”.
He also cast the election as Labour’s last chance to win back lost trust. “a final chance to change,” Burnham said, before adding that the result creates an opening to build a new politics based on unity and hope, turning away from the “divided, dark politics” he said the United States has seen.
Labour is in power but unpopular, and that unpopular mood has been sharpening inside the party. Starmer’s popularity has cratered since he led Labour to a landslide election victory in July 2024. He has faced pressure to deliver promised economic growth, repair tattered public services, and ease the cost of living. Along the way. he has been stymied by repeated missteps. including the decision to appoint Peter Mandelson—described as a scandal-tarnished friend of Jeffrey Epstein—as the U.K. ambassador to the United States.
At the same time, Labour has been losing liberal voters to the growing Green Party and has been confronted by Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, which has rapidly gained ground in post-industrial northern England areas like Makerfield. The party has consistently led in nationwide opinion polls.
The internal alarms have grown sharper since Labour’s dismal performance in May’s local elections. That setback spurred scores of lawmakers to demand Starmer’s resignation. He has refused to budge, but senior colleagues have been trying to force change.
The by-election itself was made possible by a carefully staged chain of departures. Wes Streeting resigned as health secretary in May, saying that “where we need vision, we have a vacuum.” Streeting also said he will run in a leadership contest if there is one.
Then Josh Simons, the Labour lawmaker for Makerfield, stepped down to trigger a special election and give Burnham the chance to return to Parliament.
Britain’s parliamentary system allows governing parties to change leaders midterm, with the winner becoming prime minister without a national election. Under Labour rules, a lawmaker can challenge the leader if they have backing from a fifth of the party’s House of Commons lawmakers—81 members.
The person who won in Makerfield will be sworn in as a lawmaker in London as soon as Monday. Burnham is expected to seek a meeting with Starmer to argue that the prime minister should exit gracefully and set a timetable for his departure.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said Burnham and Starmer would. in the next few days. have to “have a conversation about what comes next.” Labour lawmaker Louise Haigh. a Burnham ally. said Starmer should “do what’s best for both the country and the Labour Party” and “consider an orderly and managed transition.” Haigh added. “Andy won’t be doing anything rash or hasty. ” and said she was “really hopeful the prime minister and Andy can come to an agreement.”.
Starmer’s resistance is still firm. He has so far insisted he has no intention of leaving his post. “I will fight if there’s a challenge. ” he said at the G7 summit in France this week. adding that “We won a significant general election result in 2024. with a mandate to bring about change. I’m not going to walk away from that.”.
At the same time, Starmer has floated a possible path that could keep Burnham close to government. Speaking to Sky News on Wednesday. Starmer suggested that he could offer Burnham a Cabinet post. saying. “I want him to have a big role in government.” Allies of Burnham. however. indicated he wasn’t interested.
Burnham’s return to Parliament is likely to intensify the internal pressure on Starmer because it changes the practical arithmetic of the moment. Even if Starmer insists he will fight a challenge. he could still be forced out if several members of the Cabinet tell him the game is up and quit or threaten to quit in protest. In that case. there could be a leadership contest—or a coronation—depending on whether other potential candidates think Burnham has an unassailable lead.
Rob Ford. professor of political science at the University of Manchester. said the pressure on Starmer will be very hard to resist now that Burnham is back in Parliament. Ford said defeating Reform UK in Makerfield strengthens Burnham’s claim to be Labour’s biggest asset. “The narrative he can bring is, ‘No one else could have won that seat. I won that. I bring something unique. I bring an ability to renew our appeal,’” Ford said.
Andy Burnham Makerfield by-election Keir Starmer Labour Party leadership challenge Reform UK Rob Kenyon Wes Streeting Josh Simons Lisa Nandy Louise Haigh Peter Mandelson Jeffrey Epstein Nigel Farage G7 summit House of Commons
So Burnham just… beat them. Cool.
Not surprised Starmer is already in trouble if he keeps losing stuff like this. Makerfield by-election sounds like it’s a bigger deal than they say on TV though. Almost 55%?? wow.
I thought Reform was more popular? Like how is Burnham coming back to Parliament if it’s a local seat. Also “King of the North” is kinda cringe but I guess it works. If he challenges Starmer then shouldn’t everyone just vote against him too?
This is exactly why UK politics is a mess, because one by-election turns into a whole leadership knife fight. 9,000 votes ahead doesn’t seem like “decisive” to me, but whatever. And Reform being anti-immigration is why they’re losing right? Like that’s the only reason… right? Anyway Burnham better not get too comfy.