Andy Burnham wins Makerfield by-election after Labour MPs call for Starmer resignation

Andy Burnham won the Makerfield by-election in June after Labour MP Josh Simons stepped aside to allow the Greater Manchester mayor to stand. The seat had become vacant when Andrew Gwynne resigned earlier in the year. Burnham campaigned under the slogan "Vote Andy, for us" and kept Labour branding minimal on most campaign materials.

Allies said the approach focused attention on the candidate rather than the national party.

Local election losses preceded leadership pressure Labour lost nearly 1,500 council seats and control of 30 local authorities in England during the May elections. The party also lost control of the Welsh Senedd for the first time. Seven out of ten voters said they believed Starmer was performing poorly.

Three Labour mayors, including Burnham allies Steve Rotheram, Sadiq Khan and Richard Parker, warned that the national party's standing made local campaigning difficult.

Burnham's route back to Westminster Burnham had sought a parliamentary seat after the February Gorton and Denton by-election but was blocked by party leadership. An earlier attempt to position himself at the September 2025 Labour conference also did not lead to a challenge.

After the May election results, more than 80 Labour MPs called for Starmer's resignation. Health Secretary Wes Streeting also stepped down, opening a de-facto leadership contest. Makerfield was viewed by Burnham's supporters as a test of whether he could beat Reform UK in a northern seat the party had targeted.

“There's nothing more unstoppable than an idea whose time has come.”