Andy Burnham has been elected as the new MP for Makerfield after winning the constituency’s by-election with 24,927 votes, securing 55 per cent of the vote and a majority of 9,231 over Reform UK.
The former Mayor of Greater Manchester defeated Reform candidate Robert Kenyon, who finished second with 15,696 votes. Restore Britain candidate Rebecca Shepherd came third with 3,111 votes.
Mr Burnham’s victory returns him to the House of Commons for the first time in more than a decade and immediately places him at the centre of growing debate about Labour’s future leadership.
In his acceptance speech, Mr Burnham said voters had delivered a clear message that politicians must respond to demands for change.
“When this borough went to the polls in May, it made a loud cry for change,” he said.
“In this campaign, we have begun to answer that, but I do say to my own party, this is a final chance to change.
“This is what people said directly to me on the hundreds of doorsteps that I stood on. We must hear it, we must act upon it and we must get it right.”
The result comes at a difficult time for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who has faced increasing criticism following Labour’s poor local election results and a series of high-profile resignations from government.
Mr Burnham has previously indicated he would stand in any future Labour leadership contest, while former Health Secretary Wes Streeting has also suggested he would seek the leadership if a vacancy arose.
However, no formal challenge to Sir Keir has yet been launched, and any contender would require the backing of at least 81 Labour MPs to enter a leadership race.
The by-election also highlighted divisions on the political right. Reform UK secured second place with 15,696 votes, while Restore Britain took 3,111 votes and the Conservatives finished a distant fourth on 997 votes.
Following his victory, Mr Burnham will step down as Mayor of Greater Manchester, with a mayoral election expected to be held on 30 July.
