Andy Burnham has returned to Westminster after a decisive victory in the Makerfield byelection, winning 55% of the vote and defeating Reform UK's Robert Kenyon by a margin of over 9,000 votes. The Manchester mayor, who will now leave his role as metro mayor, described the result as the 'most consequential byelection of our lives' and a 'turning point' for the country.
Turnout surged to 58.75%, the highest for a byelection in seven years, up from 52.5% in the 2024 general election. Burnham secured 24,927 votes, while Kenyon took 15,696 (35%). Rebecca Shepherd of the hard-right Restore Britain party came a distant third with 3,111 votes (6.84%).
Polling expert John Curtice cautioned that Burnham's success was partly due to his personal appeal to voters wanting rid of Keir Starmer, rather than a wider Labour surge. There was evidence of tactical voting, with Liberal Democrats and Greens receiving only 163 and 308 votes respectively.
In his victory speech, Burnham said the people of Makerfield had 'voted for change, more power for the north, and everywhere forgotten by Westminster'. He added that Labour has a 'final chance for change' and 'must act upon it', widely seen as a direct challenge to Starmer's leadership. Former transport minister Louise Haigh, a key figure in Burnham's campaign, called for an 'orderly and managed' handover of power.
The win puts Starmer under renewed pressure, with over 100 backbenchers already calling for his resignation. Speculation is mounting that Burnham could launch a formal leadership bid in the coming days.
