Burnham wins Makerfield seat as Reform UK falters
Burnham wins Makerfield by-election; Reform UK suffers major setback.
Event / Politics
UK Labour Leadership Crisis
UK Labour party faces internal leadership challenge following Prime Minister Keir Starmer's poor political performance. Multiple party members call for his resignation, with potential challengers including Andy Burnham and Wes Streeting positioning themselves for a leadership contest.
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2026-08-16 to 2026-11-13 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 19 Jun, 06:34 UTC
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What happened
Keir Starmer faces internal Labour party pressure
Prime Minister Keir Starmer, increasingly unpopular, has faced mounting pressure from within the Labour party for months. This pressure intensified following the recent resignations of the Defence Minister and Minister of State for Armed Forces. Despite calls for his departure, Starmer stated on June 18 that he would not resign and would continue to fight.
Wes Streeting claims support for Labour leadership challenge
Wes Streeting, former Health Minister and another rival to Keir Starmer who resigned following Labour's defeat in May local elections, stated on June 18 that he had secured the 81 parliamentary endorsements needed to trigger a Labour leadership election. He indicated readiness to launch a challenge, possibly within the following week, but suggested allowing Starmer time for reflection over the weekend.
Andy Burnham positioned to challenge Keir Starmer for Labour leadership
With his election as MP, Andy Burnham, the most popular Labour figure according to YouGov polling, is now positioned to challenge Prime Minister Keir Starmer for party leadership. Burnham, known as the 'King of the North', advocated for left-wing policies and regional economic development. He had previously unsuccessfully sought the Labour leadership in 2010 and 2015.
Andy Burnham elected MP in Makerfield by-election
Andy Burnham, 56-year-old former minister and Mayor of Greater Manchester since 2017, was elected as Member of Parliament for Makerfield on June 19, 2026. He secured 54.8% of the vote, decisively defeating Robert Kenyon of Reform UK who received 34%. The by-election took place in a constituency in northwest England near Manchester and was marked by high turnout.
Reform UK suffers major setback in Makerfield election
Reform UK, despite leading national polls for months and winning local elections in the region in May, came second in the Makerfield by-election. The party's candidate Robert Kenyon received 34% of votes. The far-right party also faced competition from Restore Britain, an even more right-wing party whose candidate Rebecca Shepherd received nearly 7% of votes.
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2 alternative perspectives
Starmer faces internal pressure as potential challengers emerge
Labour leadership faces internal challenge as Burnham and Streeting signal support for alternative direction.