Andy Burnham Wins Key UK By-Election: Will He Now Challenge Prime Minister Keir Starmer?

Last Updated:June 19, 2026, 09:08 IST

Burnham’s return to Parliament clears the biggest hurdle in any bid to challenge Starmer for control of the Labour Party.

Andy Burnham has won the closely watched Makerfield by-election by a commanding majority, clearing the most important procedural hurdle in any attempt to challenge British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for the leadership of the Labour Party.

The Greater Manchester mayor secured 24,927 votes, defeating Reform UK candidate Robert Kenyon by 9,231 votes. Labour won 54 per cent of the vote, compared with Reform UK’s 35 per cent, while Rebecca Shepherd of the hardline Restore Britain party finished third with 7 per cent.

The Conservatives, Greens and Liberal Democrats trailed further behind.

Turnout stood at 58.75 per cent, with 45,510 votes cast. That was more than six percentage points higher than the 52.4 per cent turnout recorded in Makerfield during the 2024 general election.

The result returns Burnham to Westminster nine years after he left the House of Commons and gives him the parliamentary seat required to launch a formal challenge to Starmer’s increasingly vulnerable leadership.

‘Tonight Could Be The Turning Point’

In his victory speech, Burnham presented the result not merely as a local electoral win but as a mandate for wider political change.

“Everyone knows that politics is not working," he said.

“Everyone can feel that the country isn’t where it should be. Tonight could – just could – be the turning point. From here on, I will give everything that I have got to make it so, to ensure the name Makerfield is forever synonymous with bringing about the change this country needs."

Burnham said voters had backed “more power for the north and everywhere forgotten by Westminster", arguing that communities such as Makerfield had long felt neglected by Britain’s political establishment.

He said the result represented Labour’s “final chance to change".

“There will be no second chance but it is a chance now from this result tonight to build a new politics based on unity and hope, turning away from the path that takes us to a divided politics of the kind we see in the United States," Burnham said.

“We must now take this up and put this country back on the right path and bring people back together and get things working properly."

Burnham also promised that Makerfield would not simply serve as a route back to national politics.

“Makerfield would never be a stepping stone to me – but instead will be my touchstone: A Makerfield test at the heart of British politics will ensure the places that Westminster has neglected will now get fairness," he said.

Will Burnham Now Challenge Starmer?

Burnham’s victory is widely expected to intensify pressure on Starmer and could lead either to the prime minister’s resignation or a formal Labour leadership contest.

According to The Guardian, Burnham’s allies believe Starmer should be given time to announce a timetable for his departure rather than be forced out immediately. Some members of Burnham’s team have reportedly discouraged ministers from resigning this weekend over concerns that a sudden collapse in authority could push the government into chaos.

Starmer, however, has said he has no intention of stepping aside. He has pledged to fight any challenge and argued that a leadership contest would be a “bad thing for the country".

Burnham may also face competition from former health secretary Wes Streeting, who has indicated that he could move to trigger a leadership challenge as early as next week.

An Ipsos poll published before the by-election underlined the scale of Burnham’s advantage over the prime minister. Twenty-five per cent of British adults named Burnham as their preferred prime minister, compared with 12 per cent who chose Starmer, according to Al Jazeera.

Burnham had previously sought the Labour leadership in 2015 but finished behind Jeremy Corbyn.

Why Starmer Is Under Pressure

Starmer led Labour to a sweeping general election victory in 2024, but his authority has deteriorated amid public dissatisfaction, policy disputes and growing unrest within his party.

Calls for him to resign intensified after Labour suffered major defeats in local and regional elections in May. The party lost more than 1,200 councillors and control of the Welsh Senedd.

The prime minister has also faced criticism over the appointment of Peter Mandelson as Britain’s ambassador to the United States.

20 ministers have resigned from Starmer’s government in less than two years. Nearly half either publicly expressed a loss of confidence in his leadership or left after disagreements over policy.

Burnham’s return to Parliament now gives Labour lawmakers opposed to Starmer a prominent alternative around whom they can organise.

Who Is Andy Burnham?

Burnham, often called the “King of the North", was first elected to Parliament almost exactly 25 years ago and served in several ministerial roles under former prime ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.

He left Westminster after being elected mayor of Greater Manchester in 2017 and was re-elected in 2021 and 2024.

As mayor, Burnham built a strong political base across northern England by attacking what he described as an overly London-centric political and economic system. He has criticised industrial decline, elite indifference and economic policies that he said failed to deliver prosperity beyond wealthier parts of Britain.

His by-election campaign promised to “change Labour" in order to “change politics and change the country". He also pledged to make everyday life more affordable, leave people with more money in their pockets and shift greater power away from Westminster.

Another Major Election Looms

Burnham’s departure as mayor will now trigger another high-stakes election in Greater Manchester, where Labour will face a renewed challenge from Reform UK.

The mayoral election, covering an electorate of about two million people, is expected to be held on July 30. It will be among the largest by-elections in modern British political history.

The Makerfield contest itself was triggered when Labour MP Josh Simons resigned last month, allowing Burnham to contest the seat and return to Parliament.

The result does not automatically make Burnham prime minister, nor does it remove Starmer from office. But it gives the Greater Manchester mayor the platform, legitimacy and parliamentary presence required to challenge him.

Whether Starmer chooses to negotiate an exit or fight to retain control of Labour will determine whether Burnham’s Makerfield victory becomes a turning point.

About the Author

Karishma Jain

Karishma Jain, Chief Sub Editor at News18.com, writes and edits opinion pieces on a variety of subjects, including Indian politics and policy, culture and the arts, technology and social change. Follo...Read More

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