Andy Burnham's decisive victory in the Makerfield by-election has done more than return him to Parliament after nearly a decade away; it has positioned the Greater Manchester Mayor as the strongest challenger yet to Prime Minister Keir Starmer's leadership of the Labour Party.
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The 56-year-old Labour veteran won the seat with nearly 55 per cent of the vote, clearing a crucial hurdle in his bid to mount a leadership challenge.
Under Labour rules, only sitting MPs can contest the party leadership, making Burnham's return to Westminster a crucial moment in Britain's political landscape.
Starmer congratulated Burnham on the victory, but the result is expected to deepen questions over his future.
Congratulating Burnham on X, Starmer wrote. “Voters chose Labour’s campaign of hope and optimism over division and hate.”
