Key Points
- The Makerfield byelection took place on the 18th of June 2026 triggered by the stepping down of Josh Simons, the Labour MP
- Leading the Labour party, Andy Burnham gained the win by pushing reform to second place with over 9000 votes
- The byelection results have created concerns regarding Keir Starmer’s position as PM and possible resignation.
Who is Andy Burnham?
Andy Burnham has served as mayor of Greater Manchester since 2017, re-elected in 2021 and 2024. His work as mayor has immensely impacted Greater Manchester and pushed it towards an economic growth and increase in quality of life. His work in the transport field and the Bee Network scheme is considered his biggest and most successful project. Burnham strove to provide effective and affordable systems of public transport including buses, trams and local rail services. Burnham also focused greatly on the issue of housing and homelessness creating a “housing first” mindset that prioritises providing stable housing to the homeless despite other issues. His involvement in the UK government continued as he undertook his role as mayor, significantly during the Covid-19 pandemic where he advocated for financial aid for Greater Manchester. Burnham has run for the position of Labour party leader twice before in 2010 and 2015 and more recently the increase in his reputation as a strong leader has pushed his name towards a potential future labour leader.
What does Burnham’s political position look like now?
Andy Burnham has now become the centre of national politics as he’s previously been considered a suitable option for Labour leader, his win in this byelection has reinforced his reputation. He is automatically no longer the Mayor of Greater Manchester and has gained the official title of MP for Makerfield meaning he can now represent the people of Makerfield in the House of Commons. His position in the House of Commons allows him to now directly take part in parliament and have a voice in decisions and debates, leading from Westminster. His authority inside the Labour party has grown largely as the size of his win was much bigger than expected. His victory is a clear indication of the influence his ideals and projects have on voters, even those previously considering other parties such as Reform UK which has been seen to gain momentum over the past year. Overall, Andy Burnham seems to be in the strongest political position of his career by winning this byelection ana gaining national momentum and even preference. Whilst Andy proceeds in his role as MP there will be a Greater Manchester mayoral byelection to choose the next mayor.
What does this win mean for the Labour Party?
Andy Burnham’s win allows him to strengthen his own political position whilst also creating new possibilities for the labour party’s future direction. His return to Parliament may allow him to move further towards gaining labour leadership and it is clear that following the byelection the pressure has increased on Kier Starmer and MP’s. A transition in leadership is likely as we’ve also seen both activists and party MPs begin to discuss what may be right for the Labour party and the UK government. Andy Burnham’s values may also be seen to reflect within the labour party now that he has gained a position in parliament, significantly his projects in reconnecting with working-class voters. During his time as Mayor of Greater Manchester he promoted this reconnection whilst also maintaining a constant support in the city through greater public involvement in public services and a focus one economic growth, strategy that mirrors London. Hence, the Labour party could benefit largely from Andy’s win and return to parliament, his approach to running a city focuses on the people and providing practical solutions, something the Labour Party could benefit from embracing.
How will Andy Burnham’s new political position affect the UK government as a whole?
Currently as an MP for Makerfield Andy Burnham has minimal influence on UK government. As a MP for the Labour party, he is able to influence policy discussions whilst fulfilling roles within the House of Commons such as speaking in debates or voting on legislation. However, with the national increased interest in his transition towards becoming Labour Leader it seems to be likely that his influence will become much greater if he does take this role. He will be able to set the party’s priorities and shape policy and based on his work as Mayor of Greater Manchester we might expect to see a greater focus on a national economic growth and closer collaborations between government and local leaders. Overall, his new position provides him with a larger national platform and even an opportunity to gain leadership within the Labour Party and possibly even as PM. Amongst these changes, the UK government is currently focused on maintaining stability whilst being open and prepared for the possibility of a change in Labour’s leadership. Whilst Andy Burnham’s win has not changed the government it has opened up a critical time of political uncertainty.
