Andy Burnham's potential victory in the Makerfield by-election could pave the way for a new Labour manifesto, a fresh general election, and electoral reform, according to a recent analysis. The Greater Manchester mayor has long championed proportional representation (PR), arguing it would transform British politics by preventing a party from winning a majority on a minority of votes.
Under first-past-the-post, Labour secured 63% of seats in 2024 with just 34% of the vote. Burnham contends that PR would better reflect the current five- or six-party landscape and stop figures like Nigel Farage from reaching No 10 with less than 30% of the vote. He has spoken of his experience with the supplementary vote system in mayoral elections, which encourages candidates to seek second preferences and fosters less adversarial politics.
Burnham proposes that a PR commitment be written into a new manifesto, followed by a national commission—led by a figure such as Sir John Curtice—to select a specific system. He would then call a prompt election, capitalising on a short honeymoon period. The new manifesto would also allow him to affirm his own policies while maintaining Rachel Reeves's borrowing rules, though not necessarily her exact tax plans.
Other potential policies include a land value tax, wealth tax, an end to children in temporary accommodation, and a national care service. Burnham's leadership bid, alongside Wes Streeting, could free ideas currently constrained by Downing Street. The government has already accelerated efforts on EU relations, online child protection, and tackling NEETs (young people not in education, employment, or training).
