LONDON — Andy Burnham has decisively won the Makerfield by-election — making him eligible to challenge Keir Starmer for the leadership of Britain’s ruling Labour Party.
He won with 24,927 votes, with his closest rival, Reform UK’s Robert Kenyon, behind on 15,696 votes.
Turnout was 58.75 percent, up sharply from the 52.5 percent at the 2024 general election, and bucking the trend for by-elections.