Burnham says Labour has a ‘final chance to change’ as he wins Makerfield by-election

Andy Burnham, has won the Makerfield by-election, paving the way for the Mayor of Greater Manchester to head back to Parliament – most likely in order to challenge Sir Keir Starmer for the Labour leadership. Burnham received 24,927 votes, ahead of Robert Kenyon of Reform with 15,696. “I ⁠do say to my own party, this is a final chance to change,” ​Burnham said ⁠in his victory speech. “There will ‌be no second chance.” Follow The i Paper’s live blog for the latest updates. Starmer and Burnham set to speak in the next few hours Andy Burnham easily wins Makerfield by-election The Makerfield by-election – how we got here  Sort: Newest first Oldest first June 19, 2026 5:12 am Andy Burnham’s victory speech in full “Firstly, can I thank everybody who has worked so hard to make this election run so smoothly and so safely. Thank you very much, everybody.“And can I say to my fellow candidates, yes, all of you, can I say to you all, thank you for at least a civil debate between us, if not everything going on around the election. We manage that and that’s really important.“Everyone knows that politics isn’t working. 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 I have got to make it so, to ensure the name Makerfield is forever synonymous with bringing about the change this country needs, bringing back something we’ve lost, hope, hope for the future.“I am proud that this place has shone in the world’s spotlight these last five weeks and the warmth, humour and hospitality of its people has been on show for all to see.“It will 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 Westminster has neglected will now get fairness.“I spoke in the campaign about the need to change politics. I promise to lead by example from the front as your Member of Parliament, I know people who traditionally vote for the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats, the Greens and perhaps more recently in May for Reform UK have given me their support in this election. I will always have respect to them for that and out of respect for them, I will always take a place first rather than a party first approach.“And I will focus on problem solving rather than point scoring. And I will work hard after this by-election to heal the divisions of this campaign. And let it be really understood that I will be your MP.“However you voted, when this borough went to the polls in May, it made a loud cry for change in this campaign. We have begun to answer that.“But I do say to my own party, this is a final chance to change. This is what people said directly to me on the hundreds of doorsteps that I stood on. We must hear it, we must act upon it and we must get it right. 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, dark politics of the kind we see in the United States. We must now take this path and put this country back on the right path and bring people back together and get things working properly again.“It is with some sadness that this result brings an end to my wonderful nine years as mayor of Greater Manchester. This city region has given so much to me and it is a wrench to leave the job I love.“But I am not leaving the service of Greater Manchester.  I’ve always been clear that it can’t achieve everything it should be. And we can’t close the north south divide and we can’t make all the great English cities be what they should be without big change at the national level.“I always knew one day I would seek to go back to Westminster to complete that unfinished business so that Makerfield and Greater Manchester and the north of England can fulfil their potential.“And I will forever be grateful to the people here, the people of the wonderful places that make up this constituency, the proud places that always have deserved so much more. I will forever be grateful to them that they have given me the chance to go back and make this country work for Makerfield and the many places like it across the country who have been neglected, who feel that the country works for other people in other places, but not for them.  And that changes tonight. This result changes that.“This result will bring about a country that works fairly for everywhere and for everybody.  People here have voted for change. They have voted for more power for the north and everywhere. Forgotten by Westminster. They have voted for hope. Now let’s give that back to them.  Thank you very much indeed, everybody.” June 19, 2026 5:08 am How the result announcement unfolded Just after 3 am, the Makerfield count in Wigan fell quiet. Labour had known their candidate was ahead, but there were still some stunned faces as he secured a whopping majority of 9,231 with a 54.8 per cent share of the vote. Andy Burnham, not Sir Starmer, is the electable and apparently unstoppable face of Labour.In Wigan, council workers dressed in black and white counted papers. Like all good by-elections there was a cast of eccentrics, including Count Binface and an environmentalist dressed as a fox. When alphabetically arranged on stage to hear the result, Burnham was trapped between a fox and a bin like an abandoned kebab.The Monster Raving Loony Leader, Howling Lord Hope, dressed as a dime store cowboy, was determined to stick next to Burnham during the acceptance speech.Newly elected Makerfield MP Andy Burnham reacts following his victory. (Picture: Temilade Adelaja/Reuters)When Burnham spoke of “hope,” the 84-year-old echoed him. “Hope, hope,” he exclaimed. Burnham cheerfully departed the stage, clapping Hope on the back. He’d proved what he came here to do.Burnham’s supporters were out in full force.“If Andy Burnham can make an out of favour Labour palatable in Makerfield then he can make Labour palatable across the country,” said Neil Lawson from Compass.“This is an unmistakable mandate for wholesale change: electoral reform, the public ownership of essential utilities including water, maximum regional revolution. And this result has to mark the end to the hyperfactionalism that has dragged the Labour Party down.”By Kitty Donalson June 19, 2026 4:46 am Conservatives among the parties to lose their deposits The Conservatives, the Greens and the Liberal Democrats all lost their deposits – polling less than five percent in the Makerfield by-election.This was always a two-horse race between Labour and Reform, however the fact they performed so poorly during what has been one of the most high-profile by-elections in modern history, will come as a blow.Polling before the election found that more than half of people who would normally vote Green or Liberal Democrat were planning to back Burnham.Makerfield election results since 1997. (Infographic from PA Graphics)Although there have been signs of recovery for the Conservative Party in some part of the country, this did not happen in Makerfield.At the 2024 general election, the Conservatives came a distant third behind Labour and Reform and that performance was repeated in the by-election.By Caroline Wheeler June 19, 2026 4:36 am ‘People have put up with declining living standards for far too long’: Nandy Asked about whether she was going to resign, Lisa Nandy, the culture secretary and long-term Burnham ally, said she was not – although she stopped short of throwing her support behind Starmer.Speaking at the by-election count in Wigan just hours before the result was announced shortly after 3am, Nandy said: “I read in the last few weeks that all of us in various briefings and reports are on resignation watch and I can’t speak for any of my Cabinet colleagues, but what I can say is that I have served the Prime Minister loyally for the last six years and I continue to serve him proudly still. We were elected in order to deliver the change that this country needs.“We made that promise to the British people and I am not going to walk away from my responsibility to do that. I know the Prime Minister feels very strongly that we made that promise and we need to uphold it and whether it’s turning around the crisis in our prisons, building our next generation of youth clubs and youth workers, whether it’s bringing our waiting lists down in the National Health Service, we have a responsibility [to do that].”She added: “Seven weeks ago, we lost every single ward across the Wigan Borough that was up for grabs, every single ward in the Makerfield constituency to Reform. And we didn’t just lose by hundreds of votes, in some cases we lost by thousands of votes. If you told me seven weeks ago that we would be electing a Labour MP for Makerfield, I wouldn’t have believed you.”Earlier this week. Starmer pledged to offer Burnham a “big role in Government” in a bid to buy his loyalty. However, Burnham’s allies have made it clear he would not serve in his Cabinet.Pressed on how she hoped Labour and the Government will use Burnham’s talents, she said: “I hope that we can find a way to pull together and turn our gaze out to the country. I think it would be a tragedy if were to descend into infighting and turn the conversation to ourselves.”Reflecting on the lessons Labour needs to learn from Burnham’s victory, Nandy said: “People have put up with declining living standards for far too long. “They’ve run out of patience and frankly, centrist governments have run out of time and we need to deliver that change on a much grander scale. We need to be much bolder, we need to wear our hearts on our sleeves and we need to do it with much more urgency.”By Caroline Wheeler June 19, 2026 4:27 am Starmer and Burnham set to speak in the next few hours Andy Burmham is expected to speak to the Prime Minister in the next few hours amid growing speculation that he will tell him to set out a timetable for his departure.The Mayor of Greater Manchester stormed to victory in the Makerfield by-election, winning the seat with a thumping 9,241 votes.The result dealt a crushing blow to Reform, who for much of the race were said to be neck and neck with Labour.Burnham is now widely expected to take a tilt at No. 10, positioning himself as the man who can beat Reform. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy says she expects them to speak in the coming hours.There has been widespread speculation the Cabinet ministers could resign in the coming hours and days to ratchet up the pressure on Keir Starmer to quit.By Caroline Wheeler June 19, 2026 4:18 am The best photos from the vote count Newly elected Makerfield MP Andy Burnham reacts following his victory. (Picture: Temilade Adelaja/Reuters)Burnham on stage with other candidates. (Picture: Ryan Jenkinson/Getty Images)Burnham leaves after winning the Makerfield by-election. (Jon Super/AP)Restore Britain candidate Rebecca Shepherd attends the by-election declaration in Makerfield. (Picture: Ryan Jenkinson/Getty Images) June 19, 2026 4:05 am The highlights of Andy Burnham’s victory speech On his election as MP for Makerfield: “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 I have got to make it so, to ensure the name Makerfield is forever synonymous with bringing about the change this country needs.”On bringing the country together: “I promise to lead by example from the front as your Member of Parliament, I know people who traditionally vote for the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats, the Greens and perhaps more recently in May for Reform UK have given me their support in this election. I will always have respect to them for that.”On the Labour Party’s future: “But I do say to my own party, this is a final chance to change. This is what people said directly to me on the hundreds of doorsteps that I stood on. We must hear it, we must act upon it and we must get it right. There will be no second chance.”On his job as the Mayor of Greater Manchester: “It is with some sadness that this result brings an end to my wonderful nine years as mayor of Greater Manchester. This city region has given so much to me and it is a wrench to leave the job I love.” June 19, 2026 3:37 am The full results of the Makerfield by-election Andy Burnham (Lab) 24,937 votes (54.82%)Rob Kenyon (Reform) 15,696 (34.5%)Rebecca Shepherd (Restore) 3,111 (6.84%)Michael Winstanley (Conservative) 997 (2.19%)Sarah Wakefield (Green) 308 (0.68%)Jake Austin (LD) 163 (0.36%)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%) June 19, 2026 3:33 am Andy Burnham easily wins Makerfield by-election Andy Burnham has secured his return to the House of Commons as his allies called on Sir Keir Starmer to hand over power.The Greater Manchester mayor won the Makerfield by-election by 9,231 votes, seeing off the challenge from Nigel Farage’s Reform UK.Mr Burnham’s victory sets up a potential leadership contest unless the Prime Minister agrees to step down.In his victory speech he said Labour had a “final chance to change” and “we must act upon it”.Sir Keir has insisted he will fight any attempt to challenge him and has been building up a war chest for a leadership campaign. June 19, 2026 3:25 am The Makerfield by-election candidates in full As we wait for the result, here’s a full list of the Makerfield candidates…Jake Austin, Liberal Democrats Count Binface, Count Binface Party Andy Burnham, Labour Party Dan Clarke, Libertarian Party John Alfred Dyer, Independent Ed Gemmell, Climate Party Paul Richard Gould, Independent Alan ‘Howlin’ Laud Hope, The Official Monster Raving Loony Party Robert Kenyon, Reform UK Robert Pownall, Independent Rebecca Shepherd, Restore Britain Sarah Wakefield, Green Party Peter Ward, Rejoin EU Michael Winstanley, Conservative Party  June 19, 2026 2:55 am Who are the candidates in Makerfield?  We’re now only hours away from the result of the Makerfield by-election.Here’s a closer look at the largest political parties’ candidates:  Andy Burnham – Labour  Following a brief stint in journalism, Burnham, 56, joined politics as a researcher for Tessa Jowell, then MP for Dulwich and West Norwood, in 1994, before rising through the ranks to become a special adviser to then culture secretary Chris Smith in 1998.  Burnham was later elected as the Labour MP for his hometown of Leigh in Greater Manchester in 2001 – a role he held until 2017.  During his tenure, Burnham served in his first Cabinet role as chief secretary to the Treasury in 2007 under Gordon Brown.  The following year he took on the role of culture secretary before becoming health secretary in June 2009.  Andy Burnham, Labour’s candidate in the Makerfield by-election (Photo: AFP)Burnham took part in the Labour leadership race after Brown resigned in 2010 following the party’s general election defeat.  He came fourth out of five contenders, losing to Ed Miliband.  In 2015, he ran for the leadership role again, but was this time defeated by Jeremy Corbyn.  Burnham stepped down as an MP in 2017 to run to be the first mayor of Greater Manchester.  He won the contest with more than 60 per cent of the vote and was re-elected by an even bigger margin in 2021.  Robert Kenyon – Reform  Reform UK’s candidate Robert Kenyon, 41, is a self-employed plumber who was born in Makerfield and previously worked as a specialist NHS technician in Lancashire.  Kenyon, who is also a former combat engineer in the Army Reserves, was elected to be a Reform councillor in last month’s local elections, serving the ward of Bryn with Ashton-in-Makerfield North. He also ran as Reform’s candidate in Makerfield in the 2024 general election, losing by 5,399 votes to Labour’s Josh Simons, who last month stood down from his seat to trigger a by-election and allow Burnham to run for Parliament.  Kenyon’s by-election campaign has been marred by controversy after a series of controversial past online comments were unearthed, including social media posts discovered by The i Paper in which the candidate said women get abortions for “vanity purposes” and use them as a “secondary form of contraception”.  Reform has insisted the “comments were made before he was in politics. Rob isn’t a polished, professional politician and doesn’t speak like one. That’s precisely why he’ll be a straight-talking, effective voice for normal working people in Makerfield”.  Robert Kenyon has been under close scrutiny since he was selected by Nigel Farage for the Makerfield by-election on 18 June (Photo: Reform UK)Michael Winstanley – Conservatives  The Conservatives’ candidate, Michael Winstanley, 55, was born in Makerfield and was first elected as a councillor for Wigan Council’s Orrell ward in 2000, going on to serve in the role for 16 years in total. In 2010/11, he also served as Wigan’s first Tory mayor since 1980.  Following unsuccessful bids to represent the ward in 2022, 2023 and 2024, Winstanley ran in the 2024 general election, contesting the Leigh and Atherton seat.  He came third behind Labour’s Jo Platt, who won the seat, and Reform’s candidate, George Woodward.  It is not the first time Winstanley seeks to enter Parliament via the Makerfield constituency – he contested the seat in 1997, but came second to Labour’s Sir Ian McCartney, who served as its MP from 1987 to 2010.  Sarah Wakefield  – Greens  Sarah Wakefield, the Green Party’s candidate, is a councillor at Manchester City Council. The 38-year-old was elected to represent the council’s Deansgate ward in May. She also served as the executive director of Eating Better, a charity working toward creating a more sustainable food system, but is currently on maternity leave. The mother-of-two also chairs Manchester City Council’s Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee.  Wakefield was the second Green Party candidate to be selected for the Makerfield by-election. The first – Chris Kennedy, a registered nurse and children’s safeguarding specialist – pulled out of the race hours after he was selected for “personal and family reasons”.  Jake Austin – Liberal Democrats  The Liberal Democrats’ candidate, Jake Austin, 31, was born and raised in Hindley, and has lived in Greater Manchester his whole life, according to the party.   Austin is currently the Liberal Democrats’ councillor for Stockport’s Hazel Grove ward – a role he has held since 2023.  He also holds the role of Cabinet member for Housing and Environment at the council.  Austin was also the Liberal Democrats’ candidate in the Greater Manchester mayoral election in 2024, which was won by Burnham for the third consecutive time.   June 19, 2026 2:53 am The result is about to be announced A result is imminent June 19, 2026 2:30 am The Makerfield by-election – how we got here  Eleanor LangfordPolitical Reporter The Makerfield by-election was triggered by Josh Simons standing aside to let Andy Burnham return to Parliament, against the backdrop of a deepening crisis over Keir Starmer’s leadership.  Here are the key moments that led to the poll: Burnham blocked: In January, the mayor of Greater Manchester asked Labour’s National Executive Committee for permission to stand in the Gorton and Denton by-election. The NEC votes 8–1 against him, leaving him stuck outside Parliament. A seat slips away: Weeks later, the Greens win Gorton and Denton, pushing Labour into third. Because Labour rules require leadership candidates to be sitting MPs, Burnham’s defeat keeps him out of any contest to replace Starmer. Election drubbing: On 7 May, Labour lost control of more than 30 councils and around 1,500 councillors in the local and devolved elections. Welsh Labour is beaten into third behind Plaid Cymru and Reform UK, and First Minister Eluned Morgan loses her seat. Andy Burnham surrounded by Labour Party supporters at the launch of his campaign as Labour’s candidate for the Makerfield by-election (Photo: PA)The make-or-break speech: On 11 May, Starmer vows to prove his doubters wrong, warning Labour faces “very dangerous opponents” in Reform UK and saying he will fight any challenge to his leadership. The same day, Angela Rayner publicly backs Burnham’s return to Parliament and warns Starmer he must change “now”. Ministers walk: The next day, four junior ministers resign, including safeguarding minister Jess Phillips, as backbench anger hardens. Close to 100 Labour MPs are now calling on Starmer to quit or set a timetable to go. Streeting goes: Two days later, Wes Streeting resigns as health secretary, saying he has lost confidence in Starmer’s leadership and that the party faces “a vacuum”. The same day, Rayner settles a tax investigation that had been seen as an obstacle to a leadership bid. Simons steps aside: Also that day, Josh Simons announces he will stand down as MP for Makerfield – a seat he won by 5,399 votes in 2024 – to let Burnham run, calling it “too big an opportunity to miss”. This triggers the by-election. Burnham confirmed: The next day, the NEC approved his bid to contest the selection. He is confirmed as Labour’s candidate in Makerfield the following week, setting up a contest in a seat where Reform UK finished second at the last election.   June 19, 2026 2:28 am Andy Burnham arrives at the Makerfield vote count BREAKING: Labour candidate Andy Burnham has arrived at the vote count for the Makerfield by-election.https://t.co/oQhKt5Qtun Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube pic.twitter.com/QAc6zqmWok— Sky News (@SkyNews) June 19, 2026 June 19, 2026 2:16 am There are two other byelections on tonight The Conservatives have won the Aberdeen South by-election, with their candidate Douglas Lumsden winning the seat from the SNP.It’s the Tories’ first by-election gain in Scotland since 1967.The seat had been held held by former SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn – who said some in his party will have to “reflect”.On a 38 per cent turnout in the seat, Lumsden won 14,308 votes, with the SNP’s share dropping from 15,213 in 2024 to just 8,258. Scottish Conservative WIN: Aberdeen SouthCongratulations to our newest Scottish Conservative MP, Douglas Lumsden! pic.twitter.com/nKPujguLJ4— Scottish Conservatives (@ScotTories) June 19, 2026In his victory speech, the newly-elected MP said the people of the city had spoken “loud and clear” that the “destruction of the North Sea oil and gas industry must stop now.”He added: “We said at the start of this campaign that it is a referendum on the oil and gas industry and the people of Aberdeen have give a resounding answer that we back the oil and gas industry.”It wasn’t all bad news for the SNP, who did manage to hold onto the seat of Arbroath and Broughty Ferry, with Lara Bird taking the seat vacated by Stephen Gethins. June 19, 2026 2:00 am Good morning – and welcome back Welcome back to The i Paper’s politics live blog on Friday, 19 June.The polls have closed in the Makerfield by-election, and candidates for the hotly-contested seat are now anxiously awaiting the result.Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, is hoping to win for Labour and head back to Parliament – most likely in order to challenge Sir Keir Starmer for the leadership.But the right of politics have put up a fight, with Reform UK and Restore Britain battling to secure a share of the vote. This could potentially work in Burnham’s favour – but only time will tell.We expect the result of the by-election to emerge in the early hours of today.Stick with us for all the latest.