Andy Burnham will return to Parliament as an MP after a decisive victory in the Makerfield by-election. The Greater Manchester Mayor secured more votes than all other parties combined, in a result that sets the stage for a leadership challenge against Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Full results of the Makerfield by-election
- Andy Burnham (Lab) – 24,927 (54.81%, +9.61%)
- Rob Kenyon (Reform) – 15,696 (34.51%, +2.72%)
- Rebecca Shepherd (Restore) – 3,111 (6.84%)
- Michael Winstanley (Conservatives) – 997 (2.19%, -8.68%)
- Sarah Wakefield (Green) – 308 (0.68%, -3.73%)
- Jake Austin (Lib Dems) – 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: 9,231. Electorate: 77,478. Turnout: 45,476 (58.70%, +6.30%).
The results mark a dramatic turnaround for Labour and Reform in Makerfield. Just over a month ago, at the local elections, Reform won the equivalent of 51% of the vote, while Labour secured only 24%. Burnham’s victory represents a 23-point swing in just six weeks.
Turnout was unusually high for a by-election at 58.8%, surpassing the general election turnout in 2024. This outcome is expected to persuade many Labour MPs that Burnham can defeat Reform and revive the party's fortunes. It is believed that Labour MPs, Cabinet members, and Burnham himself will urge Starmer to resign voluntarily.
Burnham is reportedly keen to avoid a divisive leadership contest with the Prime Minister, who has vowed to resist any challenge. Starmer posted a brief congratulatory message on X: 'Congratulations, Andy Burnham, Labour’s new MP for Makerfield. Voters chose Labour’s campaign of hope and optimism over division and hate.' Sky News chief political commentator Jon Craig described the post as 'miserable' and 'grudging'.
The by-election was effectively a two-horse race between Labour and Reform UK’s Rob Kenyon. Restore Britain finished a distant third, while the Conservative Party garnered fewer than 1,000 votes. The result paves the way for Burnham’s return to Westminster and a potential leadership bid.
