June 18, 2026, 10:20 PM EDT / Updated June 18, 2026, 10:48 PM EDT
LONDON — Andy Burnham took his first step to potentially becoming the next British prime minister Friday, winning a special election in the small northwest England area of Makerfield .
Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, has openly discussed mounting an effort to replace Prime Minister Keir Starmer as leader of the ruling center-left Labour Party. Starmer is historically unpopular in Britain after a series of scandals and policy missteps, with critics accusing him of lacking a political vision for remedying the country’s stagnant post-Brexit economy.
Winning Thursday’s election secures Burnham’s return to Parliament and clears the path for him to bring a challenge against Starmer. Mutinous Labour MPs have been openly calling for a change of leader for months, fearful that Starmer would lead the party to a defeat in the next election and usher in the hard-right Reform UK , led by Donald Trump ally Nigel Farage.
The results of the special election, called a “by-election” in Britain, came in early Friday showing Burnham had defeated his Reform opponent, Robert Kenyon, by 24,927 votes to 15,696. He won 54.8% of the votes in a crowded field of candidates.
Burnham shakes hands with Reform UK candidate Rob Kenyon after winning the Makerfield by-election on Thursday night. Mary Turner / Bloomberg via Getty Images
“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,” Burnham said onstage after the result was announced.
Burnham characterized the vote as a vote for change. “This result will bring about a country that works fairly for everywhere and for everybody,” he said.
British by-elections are often sleepy affairs with results that are foregone conclusions, but the battle in Makerfield has been closely watched because of its national significance and the unusual circumstances by which it came about. The area’s Labour MP, Josh Simons, resigned with the deliberate intention of allowing Burnham to win the seat, enter Parliament and seek the leadership.
The area, a working-class and largely white part of Greater Manchester, is a top target for Farage’s party, but Burnham sought to turn back the tide, relying on his unique appeal as the region’s popular mayor.
A Reform UK campaign bus passes homes in Makerfield, north-west England on June 16, 2026. Oli Scarff / AFP via Getty Images
Reform’s campaign faced setbacks over unearthed social media posts from Kenyon, a former plumber who previously described himself online as a “sexist” and said some women had abortions for “vanity purposes.”
To become leader, Burnham now needs to issue an official leadership challenge to Starmer, which requires the support of 81 fellow Labour lawmakers. He would then need to defeat Starmer, who has vowed to defend his position by running in the ensuing contest himself rather than stepping aside.
Starmer’s position looks fragile: 110 of his own colleagues have already signed a letter calling for him to step down. Also running against him would be Wes Streeting, who resigned as health secretary last month to plan his own leadership challenge.
“Burnham’s win, while expected, will be greeted by his newfound colleagues at Westminster with a sigh of relief but also a degree of trepidation,” said Tim Bale, a politics professor at Queen Mary University of London.
Burnham passes photographers after winning the by-election late Thursday. Peter Byrne / PA via Getty Images
“So far, he’s been something of a fantasy leader, a screen onto which supporters can project their pet theories as to how the government can turn things around,” Bale said. “Now, presuming he takes over from Starmer, that fantasy will collide with reality — and reality always wins.”
Claire Ainsley, Starmer’s former policy guru, credited Burnham with running a “positive campaign focused on hyperlocal issues that matter to people in the constituency of Makerfield, like waste and local services.”
Ainsley, who is now a director at the Progressive Policy Institute, a Washington think tank, added that it was “the kind of campaign that is winning for center-left candidates in other countries, which shows local people their candidate will put them and their area above partisan politics.”
Count Binface, a perennial candidate in British local elections speaks to the media as votes were being counted. Ryan Jenkinson / Getty Images
Read the full article at NBC News →📄Source document: Prime Minister Keir Starmer's statement on leadership challenges
10 reports
The New York Times (World)Independent🔒Center2 days agoPrime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain stated he would not 'walk away' from any leadership contest following a significant victory by his rival, Andy Burnham, in a key parliamentary election.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a factual summary of Prime Minister Keir Starmer's response to Andy Burnham's electoral success without apparent bias or loaded language. It does not favor one side over the other and remains neutral in tone.
The New York Times (World)Independent🔒Center2 days ago How Quickly Could Andy Burnham Become U.K. Prime Minister?The article discusses Andy Burnham's potential bid for the position of U.K. Prime Minister, noting his clear leadership ambitions. It mentions that current Prime Minister Keir Starmer has indicated he would resist any challenges to his leadership.
Bias read (Center): The article presents information without overtly favoring either Burnham or Starmer. It reports on Burnham's ambitions and Starmer's stance without using loaded language or emphasizing one side over the other.
Official sources cited
- government Prime Minister Keir Starmer's statement on leadership challenges
Associated PressIndependentCenter2 days agoKier Starmer has vowed to continue his campaign after Sir Keir Starmer's election victory intensified a leadership contest within the Labour Party.
Bias read (Center): The article reports on an internal Labour Party leadership contest following an election result, presenting the situation without overtly favoring any side. It mentions Kier Starmer's commitment to continue but does not provide additional context or commentary that would indicate a clear ideological
Bloomberg NewsParty-aligned🔒Center2 days agoKeir Starmer's decision to retain leadership following Andy Burnham's election to Parliament has created tension within the Labour Party, with some cabinet members contemplating whether to advise him to step down.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a factual account of internal Labour Party dynamics without overtly favoring any side. It reports on the situation without using biased language or selectively citing sources.
Bloomberg NewsParty-aligned🔒Center2 days ago What It Would Take for Labour to Replace Keir StarmerAndy Burnham's return to the House of Commons has created an unexpected challenge for UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, as Burnham emerges as a potential rival within the Labour Party.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a factual summary of the situation without overtly favoring either Andy Burnham or Keir Starmer. It does not include biased language, one-sided sourcing, or editorial commentary that would indicate a clear ideological lean.
The New York Times (World)Independent🔒Center2 days ago Who Is Andy Burnham, the Man Who Could Be Britain’s Next Prime Minister?The article introduces Andy Burnham as a potential candidate for Britain's next prime minister, highlighting his charismatic personality, northern roots, and relaxed optimism. It contrasts him with Keir Starmer and mentions hopes among his allies that he could improve Labour's relationship with voters.
Bias read (Center): The article provides a neutral overview of Andy Burnham's qualities and his potential role in British politics without overtly favoring any side. It presents information objectively, contrasting him with another political figure but without biased language or selective sourcing.
NBC NewsIndependentCenter2 days agoAndy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, won a special election in the Makerfield area of northwest England, securing his return to Parliament and positioning him to challenge current Labour Party leader Keir Starmer. Burnham has previously expressed interest in replacing Starmer, who faces criticism over his leadership and handling of economic issues post-Brexit. The election results show Burnham defeating Reform UK candidate Robert Kenyon by a significant margin.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information about the election outcome and provides context regarding both Burnham's potential challenge to Starmer and the criticisms faced by Starmer. It does not exhibit overtly biased language, one-sided sourcing, or editorializing that would indicate a clear leaning
The Washington TimesIndependentCenter2 days agoAndy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, has won a special UK election for a parliamentary seat, positioning him as a potential challenger to Prime Minister Keir Starmer within the Labour Party. Burnham defeated Rob Kenyon of Reform UK in the seat of Makerfield. The win comes amid declining popularity for Starmer, who faces criticism over economic challenges, public service issues, and controversial appointments such as Peter Mandelson as the UK ambassador to the United States. Senior Labour figures have called for Starmer's resignation following poor results in May's local elections.
Bias read (Center): The article presents facts without overtly biased language or selective sourcing. It reports on the election outcome and provides context regarding Starmer's challenges without taking a clear stance on either Burnham or Starmer. The framing remains neutral, focusing on reported events and quotes.
Bloomberg NewsParty-aligned🔒Center2 days ago Burnham Paves Way to Oust Starmer With UK Parliament ReturnGreater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham secured a significant win for the ruling Labour Party by winning a seat in the UK Parliament. This victory positions Burnham as a potential challenger to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information without overtly biased language or emphasis. It reports on Burnham's electoral success and its implications for internal Labour Party dynamics without taking a stance on Burnham or Starmer.
Bloomberg NewsParty-aligned🔒Center3 days ago Burnham Risks Looking More and More Like the Man He Would ReplaceThe article discusses the potential political implications if Andy Burnham wins a parliamentary seat, suggesting he would likely challenge Keir Starmer for leadership within the Labour Party. It raises uncertainty among Labour MPs regarding whether Burnham could avoid the issues that led to Starmer's unpopularity.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a balanced view by highlighting both the inevitability of Burnham challenging Starmer if elected and the uncertainty surrounding Burnham's ability to overcome similar challenges. There is no overtly biased language, one-sided sourcing, or editorializing that favors one side over
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