Andy Burnham, who is widely mooted to be a prime ministerial hopeful, has won a resounding victory in the Makerfield by-election – after a number of high-profile celebrities gave him their backing.
Actors Hugh Grant and Steve Coogan were among the voices to champion Andy Burnham, who until recently had served as the mayor of Greater Manchester.
Grant, known for roles in the films Notting Hill and Four Weddings and a Funeral, appeared at a campaign rally on Wednesday night held in Stubshaw Cross Club in Ashton-in-Makerfield.
open image in galleryCoogan, meanwhile, best known for his long-running comedy persona Alan Partridge, appeared alongside Andy Burnham in a campaign video earlier this week.
In the clip, shared on social media last Saturday, the politician said he was “losing the poster war” and had been told that other campaigners had celebrity endorsements.
Coogan then appears in frame, joking: “Andy wanted a slightly classier celebrity to endorse his campaign, but he had to put up with me instead.”
Another celebrity to have voiced support for Burnham is former Countdown presenter Carol Vorderman, who said she was “dragged” into the discourse after comments made online by Reform’s by-election candidate, Robert Kenyon, resurfaced.
Earlier this month, Kenyon was found to have made historical derogatory remarks about women on social media and had appeared to endorse a sexually graphic comment directed at Vorderman.
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Responding to Andy Burnham’s win, Vorderman said in an Instagram video: “I’m so happy… Burnham wins resoundingly by about 55% of the vote. Isn’t that fantastic?
“Congratulations, Makerfield. As someone who came from the North – and I’m not a South East bird, I’ve lived in Bristol nearly 20 years now – it’s like, finally, we’re gonna have someone who thinks about places outside the South East. And it’s just gonna be marvellous, Andy Burnham for prime minister.”
Coronation Street actor and former Loose Women presenter Sally Lindsay also threw her support behind the politician, endorsing him in a video.
“I’ve supported Andy for years,” said the Mancunian celebrity, ahead of the by-election. “I think he’s a very singular politician who really, really cares about the people he’s working for. And I don’t know many politicians that give part of their salary to what they passionately believe in, which is homelessness. I will support Andy till the end of time.”
Celebrity endorsements have been a fixture of political campaigns within the UK and in the US, where many of the biggest names in show business are seen to champion major political parties.
In the run-up to the 2024 general election, celebrities including Elton John, Hugh Bonneville, Ed Sheeran, Lesley Manville and Fatboy Slim were among the many names to endorse the Labour Party.
While Keir Starmer still has years left in his term as prime minister, speculation has mounted about a leadership challenge following Labour’s disastrous result in the recent local elections.
Former health secretary Wes Streeting is another potential candidate, although Andy Burnham’s popularity among Labour voters now makes him the definitive favourite should a leadership contest take place.