Andy Burnham, the former Mayor of Greater Manchester, is on the cusp of becoming Prime Minister after winning the Makerfield by-election by over 9,000 votes, prompting Sir Keir Starmer to resign. Burnham, widely regarded as the most popular politician in the country, is now the clear frontrunner to lead the Labour Party and the UK, possibly within a month.
By-election landslide triggers leadership change
Burnham's victory in the early hours of Friday June 19, 2026, was decisive. He crushed the Reform UK candidate by more than 9,000 votes, demonstrating his ability to take on Nigel Farage and win. The result was so emphatic that Starmer reversed his earlier commitment to stand in any leadership contest and resigned this morning. Burnham's biggest potential rival, former Health Secretary Wes Streeting, announced his support after Burnham's victory speech.
This is Burnham's third attempt at the Labour leadership, having lost in 2010 and 2015. But this time, the path is clear. He is all but certain to be elected leader and become Prime Minister within weeks.
Burnham's background and political career
Born in Aintree, Lancashire, to a telephone engineer father and a receptionist mother, Burnham grew up in Culcheth, near Warrington, just 20 minutes from his new constituency of Makerfield. He attended a Catholic school and studied English at the University of Cambridge. Though he describes himself as 'Catholic by upbringing' and 'not particularly religious', his faith has influenced his politics.
Burnham joined the Labour Party at 15. After working as a researcher and for the Transport and General Workers Union, he became a parliamentary officer for the NHS Confederation. He served as a special adviser to Culture Secretary Chris Smith before being elected MP for Leigh in 2001. He held ministerial roles under Gordon Brown, including Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Culture Secretary, and Health Secretary. In 2017, he became the first Mayor of Greater Manchester, a role he still holds.
Previous leadership bids and lessons learned
In 2010, Burnham called for decisive action on immigration and welfare but lost in the second round, beating only Diane Abbott. Ed Miliband won that contest. In 2015, Burnham entered as the favourite but made gaffes, including saying 'the party always comes first' and declining to name his favourite biscuit. He came a distant second to Jeremy Corbyn.
This time, his record as mayor and his by-election triumph have consolidated support. He is expected to win easily.
What would a Burnham premiership look like?
Burnham describes his governing philosophy as 'Manchesterism', though the term remains loosely defined. In interviews, he has proposed tax cuts for lower earners and higher taxes on the wealthiest, borrowing £40 billion to build council houses, and increasing council tax on expensive homes in London and the South-East. He advocates for public ownership of housing, water, energy, and railways, acknowledging it will be expensive. In Manchester, he capped bus fares at £2, even as the national cap rose to £3.
On foreign policy, questions remain. Asked by the Guardian about Israel's actions in Gaza, Burnham said: 'I can't judge things of that enormity from where I am as mayor of Greater Manchester. But I do have concerns about the disproportionate nature of what has happened in terms of the destruction, and there has to be a full process of investigation and accountability.' He praised Starmer's approach to Donald Trump, adding: 'Obviously, the relationship is important to the UK, but not to the point where we just go along with anything they say.'
Criticism and challenges
Burnham has faced criticism for spending tens of millions on a Clean Air Zone scheme that was ultimately scrapped. His long tenure as a regional mayor and lack of recent foreign policy experience could be vulnerabilities. However, his popularity and by-election success have muted most opposition within Labour.
Burnham lives in Warrington with his Dutch wife, Marie-France van Heel, and their three children. He is expected to formally launch his leadership bid in the coming days.
