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Labour's Andy Burnham wins a special election, setting up a showdown with Starmer to lead Britain

by-election in Makerfield, England, Thursday, June 18, 2026 where voters are choosing a new lawmaker with Andy Burnham of the Labour Party as the leading contender. **Jon Super/AP** Jon Super/AP LONDON — Labour's Andy

Andy Burnham: 'King of the North' with eyes on the top job

results. The only problem? He's not an MP - a requirement to stand as Labour leader. In January, he was knocked back by Labour's ruling national executive committee (NEC) when he sought to stand

Labour leadership talk ‘froth and nonsense’, says senior minister – UK politics live

by-election in Makerfield – to return to Westminster. “When you say, ‘stay in Manchester’, we can hear you up north. Our voices matter in national politics. Andy brings a perspective from this part

‘King of the North’: Who is Andy Burnham, a potential UK prime minister?

by-election, which was eventually won by the Green Party. Burnham, whose speech is peppered with northern colloquialisms, leans into his outsider status.  But he has also served as a prominent member of Labour

Poll: Voter cynicism remains a potent threat to incumbents across the globe

results from The POLITICO Poll conducted last weekend show nearly two-thirds of U.K. adults — 64 percent — said they don’t think Starmer will remain as prime minister until the next general election. The center

The small-town voters deciding the UK’s future are demanding change, our focus group found

by-election. The voters had a mix of political histories and leanings, with longtime Labour voters sitting with supporters of right-wing parties and people who were undecided. But all expressed remarkably similar concerns about

Pressure mounts on embattled UK PM Keir Starmer as rivals circle

result for the Labour Party last week. Starmer, who has been [dogged by controversy](/news/2026/4/20/uk-pm-starmer-admits-mistaken-call-on-mandelson-rejects-calls-to-resign) over the appointment of Jeffrey Epstein associate Peter Mandelson as the UK’s ambassador to Washington, as well as [frustrations

Labour has 'no coherent plan' for country, says Blair

election results earlier this month and five ministerial resignations, with a leadership challenge widely expected. Sir Tony said the government's "principal problem" was not "Keir's personality" or "a failure to communicate 'our achievements

Labour leadership jostling puts Brexit back under political spotlight

Makerfield during the local elections because the ward boundaries do not fully align with the constituency boundaries. But roughly, Reform pulled in 50% of the vote share, with Labour at 27%, the Greens

Streeting says he would join leadership race as Burnham vows to 'save' Labour

Makerfield especially." Burnham was cleared on Friday to stand in the by-election by Labour's ruling National Executive Committee, after the constituency's current MP said he would vacate it to make