Key facts
- Andy Burnham won the Makerfield by-election with 55% of the vote.
- Labour's vote share increased by nearly 10% in the by-election.
- The turnout for the Makerfield by-election was 58.75%, the highest in seven years.
- Burnham described his victory as a "turning point" and a "final chance for change" for the Labour party.
- Burnham's political philosophy, "Manchesterism," advocates for an interventionist economy and expanded devolution.
Andy Burnham has secured a decisive victory in the Makerfield by-election, significantly increasing Labour's vote share and positioning himself as a potential challenger to Keir Starmer's leadership. The election saw a high turnout of 58.75%, the highest in seven years, with Burnham winning 55% of the vote.
Burnham, the former mayor of Manchester, described his win as a "turning point" and a "final chance for change" for the Labour party, directly addressing Starmer's leadership. His campaign figures are reportedly pushing for an "orderly and managed" handover of power, though Starmer loyalists have questioned the feasibility of such a transition without a clear political agenda from Burnham.
While polling expert John Curtice cautioned against interpreting the result as a wider surge for Labour, he noted that Burnham's appeal was strong among those seeking a change in leadership. The campaign itself was described as intense, with local residents left to repair community ties after the political fervor.
Burnham's political philosophy, dubbed "Manchesterism," emphasizes an interventionist economy, public ownership of essential assets, and expanded devolution. His policy proposals include bringing water and energy into public control, overhauling property tax, and expanding social care.