ASHTON-IN-MAKERFIELD, England (AP) 鈥� Labour鈥檚 , the popular mayor of Greater Manchester, won a special election for a seat in Parliament and signaled Friday that he will use it to challenge embattled Prime Minister for leadership of the country.
Burnham decisively won the seat of Makerfield in northwestern England over Rob Kenyon of the anti-immigration party . He called his victory a chance for Britain 鈥渢o turn the tide.鈥�
The result cements the status of Burnham, a 56-year-old politician nicknamed the King of the North, as the top contender to replace Starmer as leader of the Labour Party and the country. Burnham won almost 55% of the 45,510 votes cast for a field of more than a dozen candidates, over 9,000 more than runner-up Kenyon.
Burnham鈥檚 acceptance speech left no doubt that he wants to lead the country, and not just be one of the more than 400 Labour lawmakers in the 650-seat House of Commons.
鈥淓veryone knows that politics isn鈥檛 working,” he said. “Everyone can feel that the country isn鈥檛 where it should be. Tonight could, just could, be the turning point.鈥�
Starmer congratulated Burnham, writing on X that voters 鈥渃hose Labour鈥檚 campaign of hope and optimism over division and hate.鈥�
But the prime minister insisted he would fight any attempt to oust him.
鈥淵es, I will run, I will stand,鈥� if there is a Labour leadership contest, Starmer said. “I鈥檝e said repeatedly I鈥檓 not going to walk away from that.鈥�
Burnham says he’s the candidate of change
Burnham has led Manchester since 2017, overseeing rapid regeneration for the city where the Industrial Revolution was forged. He is pledging to repeat his signature brand of 鈥淢anchesterism鈥� on a national scale.
Burnham said he would work to ensure that 鈥渢he name Makerfield is forever synonymous with bringing about the change this country needs.鈥�
He told supporters and campaign workers on Friday that “we are going to lay out a new path for Britain.鈥�
鈥淲e need an economy that works for everybody, not a few in far-off places from here,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e have an opportunity to turn the tide, to make the country feel like it鈥檚 working again, to make people see that politics can make a positive difference, to make people feel hope again.鈥�
Earlier, in his victory speech, he said Labour had 鈥渁 final chance to change” and win back voters’ trust.
鈥淏ut 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,鈥� he said.
Voters in Makerfield, who have been the focus of international media attention during the five-week campaign, were aware their votes carried unusual weight.
鈥淚 voted Andy Burnham because I don鈥檛 believe Keir Starmer has done a good job,” said Ernest Sherman, 70. “So I voted tactically knowing that Andy Burnham has a chance to replace Starmer. So it will still be Labour, but he will have different views.鈥�
Labour is in power but unpopular
Starmer鈥檚 popularity has cratered since he led the center-left Labour Party to in July 2024.
He has struggled to deliver promised economic growth, repair and ease the cost of living, and been hamstrung by , including his decision to appoint , a scandal-tarnished friend of Jeffrey Epstein, as the U.K. ambassador to the United States.
Labour is losing liberal voters to the growing Green Party, and facing a rising , which consistently leads in nationwide opinion polls. The -led party has rapidly gained ground in post-industrial northern England areas like Makerfield, some 200 miles (320 kilometers) northwest of London.
Burnham鈥檚 resounding victory gives Labour new hope of stopping the Reform tide. Farage acknowledged he was 鈥渄isappointed, no question about it,鈥� with the result.
A by Labour in May鈥檚 local elections spurred scores of lawmakers to demand Starmer鈥檚 resignation. resigned as health secretary in May, saying that 鈥渨here we need vision, we have a vacuum.鈥� Streeting has said he will run in a leadership contest if there is one.
Then Josh Simons, the Labour lawmaker for Makerfield, stepped down to trigger a special election and give Burnham the chance to return to Parliament.
Britain鈥檚 parliamentary system allows governing parties to change leaders midterm, with the winner becoming prime minister without the need for a national election. Under Labour rules, a lawmaker can challenge the leader if they have backing from a fifth of the party鈥檚 House of Commons lawmakers 鈥� a number that stands at 81.
Rob Ford, professor of political science at the University of Manchester, said defeating Reform UK strengthens Burnham鈥檚 claim to be Labour鈥檚 biggest asset.
鈥淭he narrative he can bring is, 鈥楴o one else could have won that seat. I won that. I bring something unique. I bring an ability to renew our appeal,鈥欌�� Ford said.
Burnham鈥檚 victory piles pressure on Starmer to quit
Burnham will head to London to be sworn in as a lawmaker as soon as Monday. He鈥檚 likely to seek a meeting with Starmer to argue that the prime minister should exit gracefully and set a timetable for his departure.
Labour lawmaker Louise Haigh, a Burnham ally, said Starmer should 鈥渄o what鈥檚 best for both the country and the Labour Party鈥� and 鈥渃onsider an orderly and managed transition.鈥�
鈥淎ndy won鈥檛 be doing anything rash or hasty,鈥� she told Sky 太子探花. 鈥淚鈥檓 really hopeful the prime minister and Andy can come to an agreement.鈥�
Starmer insisted on Friday that he was elected on a 鈥渕andate for change鈥� and would carry on with it.
Earlier this week he suggested that he could offer Burnham a Cabinet post, an idea rebuffed by Burnham’s allies.
Despite his stubborn determination, Starmer could be forced out if several members of the Cabinet tell him the game is up and quit, or threaten to quit, in protest.
There could then be a leadership contest, or a coronation, depending on whether other potential candidates think Burnham has an unassailable lead.
鈥淲hen things begin to slide away from a prime minister, they begin to slide away very, very quickly,” said Tim Bale, professor of politics at Queen Mary University of London.
鈥淥ver the weekend there will be all sorts of talks behind closed doors, mainly I suspect people trying to persuade Keir Starmer … that the game is up.”
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Lawless reported from London. Associated Press writer Danica Kirka contributed to this story.
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