STORY
Andy Burnham has won the Makerfield by-election for Labour, clearing the immediate parliamentary obstacle to a possible challenge against Keir Starmer. Burnham secured 54.8% of the vote, with Reform UK in second place on 34.5%.
The contest had been watched closely because Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor, needed a seat in the House of Commons before he could realistically seek to replace Starmer as Labour leader and Prime Minister. His victory returns him to Westminster after nearly a decade away from Parliament.
Burnham said in his victory speech that the result could be a turning point for British politics and told Labour that it had a final chance to change direction. Starmer congratulated him, saying voters had chosen Labour’s campaign over division and hate.