In a stunning by-election in June 2026, Andy Burnham decisively won back the seat of Makerfield for Labour, five weeks after Reform UK had swept every local council seat in the same area. The victory sent shockwaves through Westminster, because it came amid open hostility from voters towards Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his government. For those following UK politics, the result raised an urgent question: how does a politician as popular as Burnham change the direction of a party that currently appears out of touch with many of its traditional supporters?
A by-election is a special election held when a sitting MP leaves Parliament between general elections. Makerfield, a constituency in Greater Manchester, had been a safe Labour seat for decades until the 2024 general election, when Reform UK won it. In May 2026, Reform had won every council seat up for grabs in the area. Then came the by-election, triggered by the resignation of the Reform MP. Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, stood as the Labour candidate and won comfortably, overturning the recent trend.
“What the Makerfield by-election means for Labour: explained”
Burnham's return to Parliament comes more than nine years after he left Westminster to become mayor. He has built a reputation as a politician who is genuinely attuned to ordinary people's concerns, and his campaign slogan "for us" played on that trust. According to the New Statesman, the key to his success was not just his personality but a clear political offer: he named deindustrialisation, privatisation and austerity as causes of the affordability crisis, and proposed popular but radical policies such as public ownership of essential utilities, a land value tax, and electoral reform.
For UK readers, this by-election matters because it signals deep discontent with the current Labour government under Keir Starmer, and it shows that a candidate offering a more populist, left-wing platform can win back voters who have defected to Reform. Reform UK currently leads in national polls, partly because they are seen as populists who understand voters' frustrations. Burnham's victory suggests Labour could counter that by being bold and offering a clear alternative. The result also puts pressure on Starmer's leadership: James Lyons, Starmer's former strategic communications chief, and Kelly Beaver of Ipsos have both discussed what comes next for the Prime Minister in the aftermath of the defeat.
Q: Could Keir Starmer be ousted as Labour leader after Makerfield? There is no immediate mechanism for removing a sitting prime minister, but a poor by-election result usually fuels speculation about leadership challenges. The sources discuss "how they oust Starmer" and what comes next, but no formal challenge has been announced. The by-election loss for Reform (who held the seat) is also a blow to them, but Starmer's position is under scrutiny.
Q: What policies did Andy Burnham campaign on in Makerfield? He focused on public ownership of essential utilities, a land value tax, and electoral reform. He also blamed deindustrialisation, privatisation and austerity for the cost-of-living crisis. These are policies that have been seen as fringe under Starmer's leadership, but Burnham made them central to his campaign.
Q: How did Reform UK perform in the by-election? Reform UK had won the seat at the 2024 general election and won every council seat in Makerfield in May 2026. But in the by-election, Burnham defeated them decisively, meaning Labour regained the seat. The exact majority is not given in the sources, but the result is described as a "decisive win" for Labour.
What happens next is uncertain. The sources mention upcoming analysis of how Burnham delivered the win and whether Labour will learn the right lessons. The New Statesman argues that Burnham's victory provides a "blueprint" for making Labour electorally competitive again, but that the party must be brave enough to adopt it. With Reform leading in the polls, the pressure on Starmer to change course—or face a leadership challenge—will only grow.