The night of June 19, 2026, changed the course of British politics. Andy Burnham, the former health secretary and current mayor of Greater Manchester, won the Makerfield by-election with 24,927 votes – a majority of 9,231 over Reform UK’s Robert Kenyon. His victory speech called it a “turning point”. Within hours, the prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer, was facing open calls from his own cabinet to set a timetable for his departure.
A by-election is a special election held when a seat in the House of Commons becomes vacant between general elections. Makerfield, a seat in Greater Manchester, became vacant after the previous Labour MP resigned. By-elections are often seen as a test of the government’s popularity, but this one was extraordinary: Burnham, a former Labour MP who left Parliament in 2017 to become mayor, stood specifically to return to Westminster and challenge Starmer’s leadership.
“The Makerfield by-election triggered a Labour leadership battle – here's what you need to know.”
Starmer’s position has been weakening for months. Labour suffered devastating losses in local elections earlier in 2026, and internal discontent has been rising. The Makerfield result gave Burnham a platform to launch a leadership bid. Under Labour Party rules, a leadership contest can be triggered if a challenger secures nominations from a certain number of MPs. Burnham’s allies have been rallying support, and several cabinet ministers – including Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband – have privately told Starmer to go. Chief Whip Jonathan Reynolds held a face-to-face meeting with the prime minister on Friday afternoon, and the “vast majority” of the cabinet is said to be urging him to leave.
Starmer has vowed to fight on. In a virtual call with Labour staff, he warned that a leadership contest would plunge “our party and our country into chaos”. But the pressure is relentless. Harriet Harman, a former deputy Labour leader, told Sky News that “the herd isn’t just moving, it’s stampeding” against Starmer. Transport Secretary Alexander broke ranks publicly, asking for a departure timetable. Louise Haigh, a Burnham ally, said at his victory rally: “I hope the Prime Minister takes the weekend to really reflect on the result here.”
So what happens next? Starmer is expected to spend the weekend calling cabinet ministers to gauge loyalty. If he refuses to step down, a formal leadership contest could be triggered. Burnham’s camp has indicated they want an orderly transition, but other potential candidates – such as Wes Streeting, the former health secretary – are also preparing to stand. Streeting’s team initially said he still intends to be a candidate, though there is speculation he could step aside to clear the path for Burnham. For now, the Labour Party is in a state of high suspense, and the country is watching.
Q: What is a by-election? A by-election is a one-off election to fill a single seat in the House of Commons when the sitting MP dies, resigns, or is disqualified. Because only one constituency votes, the result can signal national political trends and is often seen as a barometer of the government’s popularity.
Q: How does a Labour leadership contest work? A challenge can be launched if a candidate secures nominations from at least 10% of Labour MPs (currently about 17 MPs). If a sitting prime minister loses a vote of confidence among MPs, or if they resign, a full election is held among party members. The winner becomes leader and, if the party is in government, prime minister.
Q: Who is Andy Burnham? Andy Burnham was the Labour MP for Leigh (which covers Makerfield) from 2001 to 2017. He served as health secretary under Gordon Brown and later ran for Labour leader in 2015, losing to Jeremy Corbyn. He left Parliament to become mayor of Greater Manchester, a role he held for nine years. He is known for his strong regional voice and business-friendly “aspirational socialism”. His return to Westminster is widely seen as a bid for the premiership.
Starmer’s future remains uncertain. He has said he will stand in any leadership contest, but the calls for his resignation are growing louder. Over the weekend, he will hold further talks with cabinet ministers. Burnham has said he wants to discuss an orderly transition. By Monday, the Labour Party could be on the brink of a new leadership – and a new prime minister.