Reform MP Richard Tice has claimed that supporters in the Makerfield by-election voted for Andy Burnham in a bid to get Sir Keir Starmer out of Number 10. The former Greater Manchester Mayor defied national trends to increase Labour's share of the vote in a seat where Nigel Farage’s Reform UK made sweeping gains in last month’s local elections.
By-Election Results
Mr Burnham defeated Reform UK’s Robert Kenyon by 9,231 votes, up from 5,399 in 2024, and Labour’s vote share increased by 9.61% after voters in Makerfield went to the polls on Thursday (June 18). The result was declared shortly after 3am on Friday (June 19) morning. Turnout for the by-election was nearly 59 per cent - higher than the 2024 by-election. Mr Burnham won with 24,927 votes. He is now expected to launch a leadership challenge against Sir Keir.
Tice's Reaction
But Richard Tice, the MP for Boston and Skegness who has served as Deputy Leader of Reform UK since 2024, has now blamed people 'tactically voting' for Burnham for Reform's crushing defeat. Speaking on BBC Breakfast, he was asked by host Charlie Stayt for his analysis of the results when he said: "It's interesting actually, what people have voted for is what people voted for in the local elections - to get Starmer out. In voting for Andy Burnham, they have reinforced they want the Prime Minister gone."
Mr Tice then claimed: "Interestingly, we have Reform voters saying, 'I'm so determined to get, I'm going to vote Burnham to get that result!'" He later doubled down on his view, adding: "The reality is, we have had the election, the key takeaway is voters who voted for Mr Kenyon at local elections and other Reform councillors, some of them decided, in order to guarantee that Keir Starmer, the most unpopular Prime Minister in living memory, is ousted, they actually chose tactically to vote Andy Burnham. That is the key takeaway, whether you like it or not."
Burnham's Victory Speech
In his victory speech, Mr Burnham urged his party to act now, saying there would be no second chance. He 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."
