In a reader Q&A, chief political commentator John Rentoul addressed questions on Andy Burnham’s rise, Keir Starmer’s survival and the potential successors, suggesting Labour now faces a managed but uncertain leadership transition rather than an immediate contest

'King of the North' Andy Burnham has swept to victory in the most significant by-election in modern times as he became MP for Makerfield after seeing off Reform UK's Rob Kenyon

The Greater Manchester mayor was declared the constituency's new MP in the early hours of Friday, as he defeated his Reform UK rival to bring an end to his 9-year hiatus from the…