Burnham's election victory opens his way to contest for UK Prime Minister's post

Photo: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham won a by-election, paving his way to contend for the Labour Party leadership and, potentially, for the Prime Minister's post of the United Kingdom. Current Prime Minister Keir Starmer's position has weakened after Labour's crushing results in local elections in May, writes the BBC.

Burnham defeated Robert Kenyon, candidate for Nigel Farage's right-wing populist Reform UK party.

The by-election in the Makerfield constituency in the North West of England was called after the former MP for the constituency, Josh Simons, stepped down to clear the path for Burnham's return to Parliament.

According to Burnham, the victory in Makerfield could be a "watershed moment" leading to "the change the country needs".

In the local elections on May 7, both the ruling Labour and Conservative parties suffered significant losses, ceding a considerable portion of votes to Nigel Farage's right-wing populist Reform UK party and, to a lesser extent, the Green Party.

After the disappointing results, pressure on Starmer within the party significantly increased, but he refused to resign.

Burnham's success could be a starting point for a leadership challenge within the Labour Party and lead to a change in the head of government. Starmer himself, however, stated that he intends to continue his work.

If Burnham, as expected, initiates a leadership contest, it will be his third attempt.

He twice ran for party leader: in 2010 he lost to Ed Miliband, and in 2015 to Jeremy Corbyn.

In the event of a change in Prime Minister, the UK could have its seventh head of government in just over a decade.

"This is the last chance for change"

In his victory speech, Burnham addressed Labour Party members, calling the election result "the last chance for change".

"There will be no second chance," he said, adding that there is now an opportunity to build "a new politics based on unity and hope."

Expressing regret that his victory means the end of his work as Mayor of Greater Manchester, Burnham stated that bridging the gap between the North and South of England is impossible "without massive change at the national level."

"I always knew I would one day return to Westminster to finish unfinished business, so that Makerfield, Greater Manchester and the North of England could realize their potential," he said.

"King of the North" Andy Burnham

56-year-old Labour veteran Burnham, according to YouGov polls, is the most popular politician in the country. Prime Minister Keir Starmer ranks 21st in this rating.

Burnham served as a Member of Parliament for 16 years before being elected Mayor in 2017 and held various positions in the governments of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.

In 2017, Burnham won the election for Mayor of Greater Manchester - an agglomeration with a population of about three million people - and left the House of Commons. He was then re-elected Mayor twice, each time winning by a large margin.

He was called "King of the North" by the press and politicians during the coronavirus pandemic, when he took on the informal role of representative for the entire northern part of England and openly debated with London and the then Conservative government over lockdowns and other anti-epidemic measures.

Election Procedure

According to the Labour Party's constitution, to initiate a new leadership election while the incumbent leader is unwilling to step down, a party member must:

— first, be a Member of Parliament,

— second, gather the signatures of 20% of the parliamentary party (currently 81 signatures),

— third, receive the support of at least three party-affiliated organizations, two of which must be trade unions.

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