Andy Burnham has won the Makerfield parliamentary by-election, securing his return to Westminster after serving as the mayor of Greater Manchester for just over nine years. While the move marks the end of the politician's mayoralty in the north, it paves the way for another step that could see the MP enter Number 10 as prime minister of the UK.
Mr Burnham has made his intentions clear in recent weeks, criticising the current Labour leadership and urging "fundamental change" in government in order to win back the support of voters. Sir Keir has faced repeated calls to step down as prime minister following a disastrous result in May's local elections that saw huge Labour losses and a turn towards Reform UK, with the rival party gaining control of 14 local authorities.
With Mr Burnham winning a seat in the Commons, he is now in a position to challenge Sir Keir's leadership and bid for the top job. While sources have suggested Mr Burnham is holding back from launching a challenge immediately, speculation continues that it is only a matter of time before a leadership contest is triggered.
Burnham's Ambitions
Mr Burnham, who is widely viewed as Sir Keir’s main rival for the top job, confirmed his intention to run in a leadership contest during an appearance on BBC's Question Time. Speaking during a by-election special of the programme on June 4, he said: "I’m not somebody who gets ahead of myself. I can’t do anything unless I’m lucky enough to get the support of people here. But if I get your support, I would seek to represent you at the highest possible level and give this constituency maximum power and influence."
Mr Burnham told the programme that if Wes Streeting, former health secretary, was to launch a leadership bid, he "would seek to join it". But he added: "I’d have to persuade members of the Parliamentary Labour Party to do the same. So that’s the only question… I’ve said to my team, let’s have a proper look at this and let’s develop a policy." Speaking on the same programme, he said a "fundamental change" is needed in Westminster to restore the public’s trust in politicians.
Voters Could 'Write a New Script'
In one of his final messages before by-election day, Mr Burnham said voters in Makerfield "could be about to write a new script for British politics". He said in a video message posted on X that he had been "honest" with voters that "my own side’s not good enough". "I kind of feel as we go into the final stretch that the voters of this constituency could be about to write a new script for British politics, and how good is that? Change the story," he said. "It’s becoming more and more divided, isn’t it? And we can see what’s happening. We don’t want to end up like the United States of America, where people don’t talk to each other in the street if they vote different ways."
As polls opened, Mr Burnham made one final call to voters, telling them he would take his fight 'as high as possible'. "This is a change by-election," he said in another video message. "We left Westminster 10 years ago to build something different, something better. We worked on a place-first basis, rather than party first, problem solving rather than point scoring. We’ve taken that fight for people here, and I’ll carry that fight forward if I am lucky enough to be elected as the MP for Makerfield. I’ll take that fight as high as I can possibly take it."
Cabinet Role Ruled Out
Mr Burnham would not take a job in government if offered one, according to a senior source who spoke to the MEN. Sir Keir has said he wants Mr Burnham to “play a big part” in the Labour government in what appeared to be a signal he could invite him to join his Cabinet. In comments to Sky News, the PM said: "Andy is a great asset. And, yes, I want him to have a big role in the government." But the senior source the MEN spoke to ruled that out, saying that ‘the benefit Andy has is the wind of change for not having been associated with the Government’s failings’.
No Snap General Election
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Mr Burnham previously ruled out him calling a snap general election if he were to become PM. The spokesperson said Mr Burnham would not be calling a snap election if he enters Downing Street. They were speaking in response to speculation that he was considering such a move to give him a stronger mandate.
