Andy Burnham has secured his return to the House of Commons after winning the Makerfield by-election by a staggering 9,231 votes. The Greater Manchester mayor's victory sees Labour hold the seat, with Nigel Farage's Reform UK finishing second.
Landslide Victory
Burnham won 24,937 votes, representing 54.82% of the vote share, a significant increase of 9.62% compared to the 2024 general election. Reform UK candidate Rob Kenyon received 15,696 votes (34.51%), while Rebecca Shepherd of the Restore Party came third with 3,111 votes (6.84%). The Conservative candidate Michael Winstanley secured just 997 votes (2.19%), a sharp decline of 8.68%.
The turnout was 58.71%, up from 52.40% in 2024, with 45,486 votes cast from an electorate of 77,478.
Leadership Implications
Burnham's emphatic win has fueled speculation about a potential leadership challenge to Sir Keir Starmer. In his victory speech, 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."
However, Sir Keir has insisted he will fight any attempt to challenge him, reportedly building a war chest for a leadership campaign.
Full Results
- Andy Burnham (Lab) 24,937 (54.82%, +9.62%)
- Rob Kenyon (Reform) 15,696 (34.51%, +2.71%)
- Rebecca Shepherd (Restore) 3,111 (6.84%)
- Michael Winstanley (C) 997 (2.19%, -8.68%)
- Sarah Wakefield (Green) 308 (0.68%, -3.73%)
- Jake Austin (LD) 163 (0.36%, -6.43%)
- Count Binface (Binface) 95 (0.21%)
- Howling Laud Hope (Loony) 45 (0.10%)
- John Dyer (Ind) 37 (0.08%)
- Peter Ward (Rejoin) 35 (0.08%)
- Dan Clarke (Libertarian) 18 (0.04%)
- Ed Gemmell (Climate) 18 (0.04%)
- Robert Pownall (Ind) 18 (0.04%)
- Paul Gould (Ind) 8 (0.02%)
Labour majority: 9,241 (20.32%). Swing from Reform to Labour: 3.45%.
