Key facts
- Andy Burnham won the Makerfield seat with a majority of 9,231 votes, securing 54% of the vote.
- Burnham's campaign manager, Louise Haigh, suggested the result should prompt Prime Minister Keir Starmer to reflect on his leadership and consider stepping down.
- Haigh confirmed that Burnham is prepared to launch a leadership campaign if Starmer does not yield.
- Prime Minister Keir Starmer framed the victory as a positive sign for Labour but stated he would contest any leadership challenge.
- Nigel Farage acknowledged disappointment with Reform's vote share in Makerfield.
Andy Burnham secured a decisive victory in the Makerfield by-election, a result that has fueled speculation about a potential challenge to Prime Minister Keir Starmer's leadership. Burnham, who won with a substantial majority, made a swift exit from his victory rally, avoiding direct questions about leadership ambitions.
Following Burnham's win, his campaign manager, Louise Haigh, stated that the Prime Minister should reflect on the result and that a leadership contest would be 'brutal' and unlikely to succeed. Haigh confirmed that Burnham has a leadership campaign ready should Starmer refuse to step aside.
Prime Minister Starmer attempted to frame the Makerfield result as a positive sign for Labour, indicating a 'tide is turning on Reform.' However, he acknowledged that he would stand in any leadership contest if one were to occur, urging party unity to avoid chaos.
Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, expressed disappointment with his party's performance in Makerfield, falling short of his vote share expectations. The scale of Burnham's victory, nearly doubling his predecessor's majority, has led many of his supporters to believe a coronation, rather than a contest, is the most likely path forward for the Labour party.
Burnham's campaign focused on themes such as cutting utility and transport fares, reindustrializing the North, and procurement policies favoring British businesses. The celebrations following the win continued into the early morning, with Burnham reportedly choosing music for his 'running mode.'