Andy Burnham wins Makerfield byelection by 9,231 votes

Andy Burnham won the Makerfield byelection by a large margin, beating Reform UK candidate Robert Kenyon by 9,231 votes.

Labour took 54 percent of the vote to Reform UK’s 35 percent. The Restore Britain party came third with 7 percent. Turnout reached 58.75 percent, up six points from the general election, with 45,510 votes cast.

In his victory speech, Burnham said the result “could be a turning point” and that voters had chosen “change” and “more power for the north and everywhere forgotten by Westminster.” He called it Labour’s “final chance to change,” adding there would be “no second chance.”

Burnham said the party must now “build a new politics based on unity and hope” and avoid the “divided politics” seen in the United States. He said the country must be put “back on the right path” and that people must be brought “back together.”

The win positions Burnham to challenge Keir Starmer for the Labour leadership if a contest opens in the coming days. Allies of Burnham believe Starmer should be given time to set a departure timetable, the Guardian reported.

Starmer congratulated Burnham and said voters had chosen “Labour’s campaign of hope and optimism over division and hate.” Burnham also drew support from an anti-Reform coalition. The Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Greens together won just 3 percent of the vote, down from 22 percent in 2024.

Burnham, who served in the governments of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, will return to Westminster nine years after leaving Parliament. He told supporters at the Life convention centre in Wigan that Makerfield would serve as “my touchstone” and that the result would bring “a country that works fairly for everyone.”

The byelection was called after Labour MP Josh Simons stepped down last month to let Burnham run. Starmer has said he will not resign and intends to fight any challenge. Former health secretary Wes Streeting has indicated he may trigger a leadership contest as early as next week.

Cabinet minister Lisa Nandy called the result “history in the making” and said Burnham had shown a willingness to fight for change.