Andy Burnham swept to victory in the Makerfield byelection with a majority of 9,231 – a result he called a “turning point” and Labour’s “final chance to change”, immediately opening the door to a challenge against Keir Starmer’s premiership.
The Greater Manchester mayor beat Reform UK candidate Robert Kenyon, who secured 15,696 votes to Burnham’s 24,927. Restore Britain came a distant third on 7%. Turnout was 58.75%, up six points on the general election, with 45,510 votes cast.
“Andy Burnham wins Makerfield byelection by 9,231 votes, paving way for challenge to Keir Starmer.”
In his victory speech at the Life convention centre in Wigan, Burnham said the constituency had “made a loud cry for change” when it went to the polls in May. “In this campaign we have begun to answer that,” he said. “But I do say to my own party: this is a final chance to change. This is what people said directly to me on the hundreds of doorsteps that I stood on. We must hear it, we must act upon it, and we must get it right. There will be no second chance.”
The result was widely seen as a trigger for a leadership contest. Former Labour cabinet minister David Blunkett told BBC’s Newsnight that Starmer should stand down regardless of the outcome. Burnham’s allies have urged the prime minister to set out an “orderly and managed transition”, but Starmer has insisted he will fight any attempt to unseat him.
Crucially, Burnham has already crossed the threshold of 81 Labour MP nominations needed to formally trigger a leadership race, according to three sources close to the matter. The operation was organised in secret “cells” – the same technique used to orchestrate the rebellion against welfare cuts last summer. Burnham plans to present the list to Starmer to encourage him to step down without a contest. “A contest isn’t in anyone’s interest and we’re hoping Keir will come to his senses,” one insider said.
Cabinet minister Lisa Nandy described the night as “history in the making”. She said: “What Andy’s shown here is that there is something that he brings, a willingness to go out and fight for the change that people need … I think that with him back in the top team, at the top table, helping to drive that change, we’ll be in a really strong position.”
Polling expert Sir John Curtice was more cautious, telling the BBC that Burnham’s victory was “unlikely to lead to a surge in Labour’s popularity”. He noted that Burnham had ridden “two horses at once” – appealing to traditional Labour voters and those wanting rid of Starmer – and questioned whether that trick could be repeated once Burnham became his own man.
Burnham left the count almost immediately after his speech, getting into a car with his wife and daughter and saying he was going for a “pint”. He had earlier told the crowd: “Makerfield will never be a stepping stone to me – but instead will be my touchstone.”