Results for the Makerfield by-election, in what could be one of the most decisive moments in recent British political history, have been announced.
Voters in the Greater Manchester constituency went to the polls on Thursday, with their decision having huge implications for Keir Starmer, the Labour Party, and the UK as a whole.
It was announced on Friday morning that Andy Burnham won the seat with 24,927 votes – Reform and Rob Kenyon finished on 15,696 votes.
The election was triggered by the resignation of Labour MP Josh Simmons, who stood aside to allow Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, the chance to return to parliament as an MP.
Burnham, who was previously barred by the Labour Party from standing in the recent Gorton and Denton by-election, which was won by the Green Party, was the favourite to win the seat.
View 3 Images(Image: Peter Byrne/PA Wire)
However, he faced opposition from Reform UK candidate Robert Kenyon, a plumber and Wigan councillor who had faced criticism over historic social media posts.
In total there were 14 candidates contesting the seat.
Burnham previously served as MP for Leigh from 1997 to 2017, and was Culture Secretary and briefly Health Secretary under Gordon Brown.
He was elected Mayor of Greater Manchester in 2017, winning three terms.
Before polls opened, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he was willing to offer Burnham a “big” job in his Government, should he win.
However Burnham is widely expected to challenge Starmer for leadership of the Labour Party, and seek to replace him in No 10.
View 3 Images(Image: Jane Barlow/PA Wire)
The Makerfield poll was one of the three parliamentary by-elections taking place today, with voters in two Scottish constituencies also selecting new MPs.
The contests in Aberdeen South and the Arbroath and Broughty Ferry constituency were triggered following the election of local SNP MPs Stephen Flynn and Stephen Gethins to Holyrood last month.
They were won by the Conservatives in Aberdeen South and held by SNP in Arbroath and Broughty Ferry.
- Jake Austin, Liberal Democrats
- Count Binface, Count Binface Party
- Andy Burnham, Labour and Co-operative Party
- Dan Clarke, Libertarian Party
- John Dyer, Independent
- Ed Gemmell, Climate Party
- Paul Gould, Independent
- Alan ‘Howlin’ Laud Hope, The Official Monster Raving Loony Party
- Robert Kenyon, Reform UK
- Robert Pownall, Independent
- Rebecca Shepherd, Restore Britain
- Sarah Wakefield, Green Party
- Peter Ward, Rejoin EU
- Michael Winstanley, Conservative Party