MANCHESTER, England (CN) – Andy Burnham won a huge majority in a UK special election on Friday, returning him to Parliament and paving the way for the former mayor of Greater Manchester to mount a leadership challenge against Labor Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Burnham won 24,927 votes, or 55% of the total, beating the right-wing UK Reform party by more than 9,000 votes in the Makerfield constituency, many of whom expected Nigel Farage’s insurgent right-wing party to threaten.
The result marks Burnham’s return to Westminster after a decade away and could reshape British politics at a time when Starmer’s authority is under increasing strain. The prime minister is deeply unpopular and has faced calls for his resignation, most recently over his handling of the appointment of Jeffrey Epstein-linked Peter Mandelson as US ambassador.
Starmer prepares for leadership battle
Before the by-election, Starmer publicly warned Burnham not to use a victory as a launching pad for a leadership bid.
On Friday, however, the prime minister struck a conciliatory tone, congratulating Burnham.
He called it “a very good win” and described the race as “a real battle of Labor values against the divisive values of reform”.
“The tide is turning to reform,” Starmer said. “They can’t win the by-election now, they’ve probably reached the peak of their support, it’s falling.”
However, he acknowledged the threat to his leadership.
“If there’s a race, then yes, I’m going to run, I’m going to stand and I’ve said over and over that I’m not going to walk away from it,” he said.
Under Labor Party rules, Burnham would need the support of 20% of Labor MPs – 81 members of Parliament – to formally challenge Starmer. Unlike the challengers, Starmer would not need nominations to defend his position.
Party members and affiliated organizations will then vote, with a candidate having to secure more than 50% of the vote to become leader.
Although no challenge has been officially announced, Burnham’s victory is expected to accelerate talks already underway within Labour.
More than 90 Labor MPs have previously called for Starmer to resign.
Former health secretary Wes Streeting, who resigned from the Starmer government last month and has also signaled interest in a future leadership contest, called the result a “stunning victory”.
“Makerfield gives us all hope that Labor can still win, but Andy’s campaign is proof that to do that we have to change,” he said.
Decisive victory over the reform
Burnham’s winning streak could strengthen his hand as he weighs a challenge to Starmer’s leadership.
More than 45,500 votes were cast, producing a turnout of 58.8% – the first time since 1982 that a British parliamentary by-election attracted a greater turnout than the previous general election in the same country.
Reform finished in second place with 35%.
Restore Britain, the far-right party that won the support of Elon Musk, took 7%, with the Conservatives, Greens and Liberal Democrats behind.
Supporters of the former mayor, who is known as the King of the North, have argued that he is the only senior Labor figure capable of defeating Farage’s populist movement in northern England. It is a region where Labor has struggled to retain working-class voters in recent years.
But Makerfield seemed attuned to a Reformation concern.
The constituency voted heavily to leave the European Union during the 2016 Brexit referendum, with 65% supporting Brexit and recent Reform deleted the local elections throughout the area around Wigan.
The party entered the race as weak, but on favorable ground. Instead, Burnham extended Labour’s share of the vote by 10 percentage points.
John, a resident of Greater Manchester, told Courthouse News the significance of Burnham’s victory “cannot be understated”.
He said the result could shape Britain’s political direction for years and argued Burnham must now deliver on promises to deliver “a new way of doing politics”.
John added that he believed a reform victory in Makerfield would have put Farage’s party on course to win the next general election.
“New way for Britain ‘
Burnham used his victory speech to portray the result as a warning to both Labor and Britain
“The country is not where it needs to be and tonight could be the turning point,” he said.
He called the result “a clarion call for change” and warned Labor faced a “final chance to change”.
“There will be no second chances,” Burnham said. “There is an opportunity now to build a new politics based on unity and hope.”
Speaking to Labor supporters later on Friday, Burnham outlined a wider economic agenda centered on the cost of living crisis.
“We need an economy that works for everyone,” he said, adding that water bills, energy prices and rail fares must fall.
He said Labor must “make life affordable” and “give people more breathing space so they can have a better life”.
Burnham also called for “a new push for re-industrialisation”, improvements in education and warned that Britain risks following the United States into greater political polarisation.
“Last night’s vote carried a risk” of Britain moving towards “greater division”, he said, before adding that the result had “opened up the possibility that we can now move forward together towards that future”.
He vowed to chart a “new way for Britain”.
Reform turns attention to Manchester
Reform leader Farage admitted disappointment.
“It was a disappointing morning,” he said. Burnham’s victory was “dramatic” and “no one could quite see it coming.”
“I thought we were going to get 18,000 votes, we only got 16,000, so I’m disappointed by that. There’s no doubt about it,” Farage said.
Reform deputy leader Richard Tice claimed some supporters had tactically voted for Burnham in an attempt to force Starmer out of office.
“I am very determined to oust Starmer, I will vote for Burnham to ensure that result,” Tice said supporters had told him.
Despite the setback, Reform is already turning its attention to another race that Burnham’s victory has set in motion.
Because Burnham can no longer serve simultaneously as a Member of Parliament and mayor of Greater Manchester, authorities must hold a special mayoral election within 35 days of the office becoming vacant, meaning voters will return to the polls by August 6.
The race will become a test of whether Labor can retain local government or whether Reforma can turn the momentum of local elections into executive power. The Green Party is also expected to target the seat after picking up several local seats last month.
The mayor of Greater Manchester oversees transport, housing, policing and regional economic development for almost 3 million people in 10 boroughs in northern England – powers broadly comparable to those of a metropolitan executive in a large US region.
Housing Secretary Steve Reed warned Labor could not afford to lose office.
“We need to focus on making sure that Reform doesn’t get this,” Reed said. “The damage they would do to the whole of the North West of England if they did that would be incalculable.”
Courthouse News reporter James Francis Whitehead is in England.
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