Labour politician Andy Burnham has won the Makerfield by-election with 55% of the vote, according to BBC reporting, in a result described by UK and European outlets as opening the way for a Labour leadership contest involving Starmer.
Burnham, the outgoing Greater Manchester mayor, held off a challenge from Reform UK, which finished more than 9,000 votes behind, the BBC reported.
In his victory speech, Burnham said the result could be a “turning point” for Labour, according to the BBC. The broadcaster also reported that Burnham said Labour had a final chance to change after the win.
Euronews reported that Burnham’s victory in the key UK by-election set up a Labour leadership battle with Starmer. Deutsche Welle also reported that the Manchester mayor had won a seat in Parliament.
The contest was closely watched because Burnham, a former cabinet minister and long-serving mayor of Greater Manchester, has been regarded as a potential national Labour figure. The result returns him to Westminster after his period in regional office.
The by-election result came as other UK political contests were also reported, including a Scottish Conservative win in Aberdeen South, which the BBC described as the party’s first Westminster by-election victory in more than 50 years.
