ANDY Burnham has won the crunch Makerfield by-election, setting him on course to challenge Sir Keir Starmer as Prime Minister.
The Greater Manchester Mayor beat Reform UK‘s Robert Kenyon after a bruising campaign that became a proxy battle for the future of Labour – and Britain.
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Andy Burnham beamed after winning the Makerfield by-election early on Friday morning Credit: PA
Burnham waves while standing on stage next to Count Binface and another candidate dressed as a fox Credit: AP
The newly elected Labour MP shook the hands of supporters following his win Credit: AP
Mr Burnham secured 24,927 votes and won by a majority of 9,231 – which will return him to Westminster for the first time in nine years.
Second place was Reform’s Rob Kenyon who received 15,696 votes and third place was Restore who achieved 3,111.
Mr Burnham’s victory propels him to the centre of the race to succeed Sir Keir, with talks between the two men expected within days.
Britain is likely set for a summer of Labour civil war as the rival camps fight it out for the leadership of the party and the nation.
FINAL COUNT
Polls close in Makerfield by-election that could make or break Keir’s future
BURNED
Burnham demanded election when Tories changed PM but WON’T hold one if he ousts Keir
Burnham spoke following his victory saying that ‘people have voted for change’ Credit: PA
Burnham received a round of applause from supporters when he arrived at the count Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
Mr Burnham’s win sets up a potential contest unless the Prime Minister agrees to step down.
During his victory speech, Mr Burnham said Labour had a “final chance to change” and “we must act upon it”.
He added: “People here have voted for change, they have voted for more power for the North and everywhere forgotten by Westminster.
“They have voted for hope. Now let’s give that back to them.”
Taking a shot at Reform, he said: “There will be no second chance, but 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.”
Reform’s Rob Kenyon achieved 15,696 votes Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
Rupert Lowe of Restore Britain speaks to the press ahead of the Makerfield result Credit: Reuters
The turnout for the ballot was 58.75 per cent with the result coming just after 3am.
Sir Keir has insisted he will fight any attempt to challenge him and has been building up a war chest for the leadership campaign.
But Mr Burnham’s supporters want the Prime Minister to set out an “orderly and managed transition” of power.
Former cabinet minister Louise Haigh said she hoped Sir Keir will “do what’s best for both the country and the Labour Party”.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, who is a close ally to Mr Burnham, said “there will be a conversation” with the Prime Minister but added: “That’s not for tonight.”
Votes were counted late into the night with the result coming after 3am Credit: Reuters
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage turned up at the polling station yesterday in support for candidate Rob Kenyon Credit: Alamy
Asked if she will resign to heap up the pressure on the PM to quit, Ms Nandy said: “I’m not going to resign, of course not.
“I’d never walk away from the promise that we made to the people of this country until we’ve delivered it.”
Before polling day, the PM warned that a leadership battle would unleash “chaos” and argued Labour should focus instead on holding Greater Manchester.
His supporters have pointed to assurances Burnham gave Labour’s ruling NEC that he would throw himself into the mayoral campaign.
But Burnham allies insist he will not disappear from Westminster just as momentum is behind him.
In Scotland, the Tories won Aberdeen South from the SNP after ex-Westminster leader Stephen Flynn resigned after being elected to Holyrood.
Tories win by-election in Scotland
By Martina Bet, Chief Political Correspondent
THE Tories have won the Aberdeen South by-election, wresting the seat from the SNP in a major blow for John Swinney.
Scottish Tory MSP Douglas Lumsden secured victory after a campaign almost entirely dominated by rows over the future of North Sea oil and gas.
The loss will pile fresh pressure on Mr Swinney just weeks after former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell, husband of ex-First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, was convicted of embezzling party funds.
The scandal has plunged the SNP into renewed turmoil and raised fresh questions over the party’s leadership and finances.
The by-election was triggered after former SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn quit the Commons following his election to Holyrood.Former MP Stephen Gethins also stood down and both men were swiftly drafted into Mr Swinney’s Government.
Mr Lumsden defeated former SNP MP Richard Thomson after a campaign in which candidates said concerns over oil and gas jobs dominated conversations on the doorstep in Aberdeen, long known as Europe’s energy capital.
Reform UK candidate Jo Hart also sought to position herself as a defender of the industry.
Labour’s Nurul Hoque Ali, Liberal Democrat Mel Sullivan, Green candidate Jorg Shelton Eckstein and Alliance for Democracy and Freedom hopeful David Ballantine also stood.
The victory marks a rare Westminster gain for the Conservatives in Scotland and provides a much-needed boost for Kemi Badenoch’s party.
Polling stations opened at 7am yesterday and closed at 10pm ahead of the all important count, with the candidates spending the day feverishly campaigning.
Burnham held a rally with supporters in Makerfield, giving an impassioned speech while surrounded by a wall of bright red “Vote Andy Vote Hope” signs.
He was joined by former cabinet minister Angela Rayner, who rocked up to take selfies with excited locals, Labour’s deputy leader Lucy Powell and Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, Darren Jones.
Kenyon meanwhile, was accompanied by a grinning Nigel Farage outside a polling station, hoping his popularity would help him clinch the seat.
