Andy Burnham will return to Parliament as an MP after storming to victory in the Makerfield by-election. The Greater Manchester Mayor won more votes than all the other parties put together, in a result that paves the way for a leadership coup against Keir Starmer.
Full Result of the Makerfield By-Election
- Andy Burnham (Lab) – 24,927 (54.81%, +9.61%)
- Rob Kenyon (Reform) – 15,696 (34.51%, +2.72%)
- Rebecca Shepherd (Restore) – 3,111 (6.84%)
- Michael Winstanley (Conservatives) – 997 (2.19%, -8.68%)
- Sarah Wakefield (Green) – 308 (0.68%, -3.73%)
- Jake Austin (Lib Dems) – 163 (0.36%, -6.43%)
- Count Binface (Binface) – 95 (0.21%)
- Howling Laud Hope (Loony) – 45 (0.10%)
- John Dyer (Ind) – 37 (0.08%)
- Peter Ward (Rejoin) – 35 (0.08%)
- Dan Clarke (Libertarian) – 18 (0.04%)
- Ed Gemmell (Climate) – 18 (0.04%)
- Robert Pownall (Ind) – 18 (0.04%)
- Paul Gould (Ind) – 8 (0.02%)
Labour majority: 9,231. Electorate: 77,478. Turnout: 45,476 (58.70%, +6.30%).
The results were a huge change in fortune for Labour and Reform in Makerfield. Just over a month ago, at the local elections, Reform won the equivalent of 51% of the vote, while Labour got 24%. Burnham's victory means he has achieved a 23-point swing in just six weeks. Turnout at the election was also unusually high, at 58.8%. More people actually voted in this poll than at the general election in 2024, which is unusual for by-elections.
Put together, these results will be enough to persuade many Labour MPs that Burnham can beat Reform and revive their party's political fortunes. It is thought that Labour MPs, Cabinet members and the new Makerfield representative himself will try to convince Keir Starmer to resign on his own terms. Burnham is thought to want to avoid a bruising leadership battle with the Prime Minister, who has so far vowed to fight any challenge.
Sir Keir did upload a rather short post congratulating his political rival. He said on X: 'Congratulations, Andy Burnham, Labour's new MP for Makerfield. Voters chose Labour's campaign of hope and optimism over division and hate.' Sky News chief political commentator Jon Craig labelled the post 'miserable' and 'grudging'.
