LONDON: Former mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham won a thumping victory in the Makerfield byelection on Thursday night, paving the way for a leadership challenge in Labour and putting him much closer to the keys to No. 10.

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…

Andy Burnham secured a majority of 9,000 votes over Reform in a result that sparked tears of joy from Left-wingers - who now hope to force far more extreme tax and spend policies.