Andy Burnham has secured a decisive victory in the Makerfield by-election, returning to the House of Commons and putting Keir Starmer’s leadership under renewed pressure. The mayor of Manchester won 24,927 votes (55%) for Labour, increasing the party’s vote share by nearly 10%.
Turnout was 58.75%, up from 52.5% at the 2024 general election, the highest for a by-election in seven years. Reform candidate Robert Kenyon received 15,696 votes (35%), with Restore Britain’s Rebecca Shepherd trailing on 3,111 votes (6.84%).
Analysis suggests tactical voting helped Burnham, with Liberal Democrats and Greens securing only 163 and 308 votes respectively. Polling guru John Curtice noted that much of Burnham’s success stemmed from his appeal to voters wanting to oust Keir Starmer.
In his victory speech, Burnham said the people of Makerfield had “voted for change” and called for more power for the north. He described the contest as the “most consequential byelection of our lives” and indicated it was a “turning point” for the country.
Former transport minister Louise Haigh, a key figure in Burnham’s campaign, suggested Keir Starmer should agree to an “orderly and managed” handover of power. The result has fuelled speculation about a leadership challenge, with Burnham expected to mount a bid for the premiership.
