Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleAndy Burnham has won the Makerfield by-election, securing his return to Westminster and setting up a widely anticipated challenge to Sir Keir Starmer's leadership. He triumphed over Reform UK by 9,231 votes, increasing Labour's majority in a seat that had previously seen Reform support in local elections. In his victory speech, Mr Burnham declared that Labour has a “final chance to change” and must act upon the public's desire for a different political direction. Supporters have called for an “orderly and managed transition” of power, while Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to fight any leadership contest. Mr Burnham resigned as Greater Manchester mayor to contest the seat, pledging that Makerfield would be his “touchstone” rather than a “stepping stone” for his political ambitions. In fullAndy Burnham wins Makerfield by-election landslide to pave way for challenge to Keir StarmerThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in

Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or…

Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.AllNewsSportCultureLifestyleAndy Burnham will not accept a position in…

Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.AllNewsSportCultureLifestyleVoters in Makerfield, north-west England,…

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Greater Manchester mayor's victory in Makerfield clears path for bid to unseat Starmer as prime minister.

Andy Burnham wins the Makerfield by-election, positioning himself for a Labour leadership challenge. Leadership challenge by 2026 at 90% NO.

Labour's Andy Burnham won the Makerfield parliamentary by-election on Friday, defeating Reform UK candidate Rob Kenyon and returning to Westminster after years as Greater…

Greater Manchester mayor says result represents Labour’s ‘final chance to change’, after soundly beating Reform UK and hardline Restore Britain

The byelection result has demonstrated Andy Burnham’s ability to tackle the populist right-wing Reform UK party at a time of agonising national debate about British PM Keir…

Greater Manchester mayor secures return to Westminster and could now trigger a leadership contest

The veteran Labour politician will return to the Commons after his by-election victory in Makerfield

Mayor turned MP says Labour has 'final chance to change' as pressure mounts on Starmer

Win for Greater Manchester mayor paves way for challenge to Keir Starmer’s leadership

Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or…

Andy Burnham won the Makerfield by-election, defeating Reform UK by more than 9,000 votes with nearly 55% of the vote.

Keir Starmer’s position as UK prime minister is in peril after Burnham’s crushing victory over Reform UK

Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.AllNewsSportCultureLifestyleAndy Burnham secured a decisive victory in…

Seismic decisions loom for Labour as Andy Burnham secures a return to Westminster with a convincing by-election win that could spell the end of Keir Starmer's premiership

In his victory speech, Burnham warned the Labour Party that it had a "final chance to change". #EuropeNews

The former Greater Manchester mayor says this could be the ‘turning point’ for the country