Sir Keir Starmer has issued a statement following Andy Burnham's resounding success in the Makerfield by-election.
The now former Mayor of Greater Manchester received 24,927 votes - beating Reform's Robert Kenyon, who came in second with 15,696. It means Labour won by 9,231 votes, with Labour’s vote share increasing by 9.61%.
Mr Burnham said: “Everyone knows that politics isn’t working. Everyone can feel that the country isn’t where it should be. Tonight could, just could, be the turning point.”
In a direct message to Labour MPs he said: “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. There will be no second chance.”
The by-election was called following the sudden resignation of Labour MP Josh Simons on May 14. Mr Burnham is now expected to launch a leadership challenge against Sir Keir and indicated earlier this week he will not accept a job in the current Prime Minister's government.
At around 6am on Friday morning Sir Keir issued a statement on X congratulating the new Labour MP. He wrote: "Congratulations, @AndyBurnhamGM, Labour’s new MP for Makerfield. Voters chose Labour’s campaign of hope and optimism over division and hate."
Mr Burnham has previously indicated he would join a leadership contest if one was triggered, something that would require 81 MPs to line up behind a candidate. Former health secretary Wes Streeting has suggested he would be willing to fire the starting gun for a contest if Sir Keir does not stand down.
