All posts tagged: byelection

Politics Home | Burnham Vows To “End Trickle Down Economics” In By-Election Victory Speech

Politics Home | Burnham Vows To “End Trickle Down Economics” In By-Election Victory Speech

Published by Sam Flores

19 June 2026. Andy Burnham speaks to supporters after the Makerfield by-election in Ashton in Makerfield. (Alamy) 3 min read4 hr Andy Burnham has told Labour it is the party’s “last chance to change” in a speech following his landslide victory at the Makerfield by-election. “It is our last chance to change, but we’re going to take it, aren’t we? We are going to take that opportunity, and we are going to lay out a new path for Britain,” said Burnham, who secured his return to the House of Commons by winning over 50 per cent of the vote on Thursday. “We have an opportunity to turn the tide to make the country feel like it’s working again, to make people see that politics can make a positive difference, to make people feel hope again.” Burnham, who must now resign as Greater Manchester mayor to take up his role as MP, comfortably defeated his closest rival, the Reform UK candidate Rob Kenyon, by 20 percentage points. The by-election in the northwest of England …

Politics Home | Scottish Conservatives Defeat SNP In Aberdeen South With Historic By-Election Win

Politics Home | Scottish Conservatives Defeat SNP In Aberdeen South With Historic By-Election Win

Published by Sam Flores

2 min read4 min The Scottish Conservatives won a by-election for the first time in almost 60 years as they defeated the Scottish National Party (SNP). The seat, which was vacated by former SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn when he became an MSP, was won by Douglas Lumsden – the first time the Tories have won a by-election in Scotland since 1967. Lumsden, himself an MSP, must now stand down at Holyrood after a recent rule change to prevent so-called ‘double jobbing’. He defeated SNP candidate Richard Thomson, a former MP for Gordon, by more than 6,000 votes, with the Tories taking more than half of all ballots cast on a turnout of just 38 per cent. The Conservatives had sought to make the by-election about the north east’s oil and gas industry, with UK leader Kemi Badenoch making a number of visits to the Granite City during the campaign. “This result sends a clear message to Labour and the SNP: their war on North Sea oil and gas must end,” Lumsden tweeted. …

Politics Home Article | Andy Burnham Cruises To Victory In Crucial Makerfield By-Election

Politics Home Article | Andy Burnham Cruises To Victory In Crucial Makerfield By-Election

Published by Sam Flores

3 min read37 min Andy Burnham has comfortably won the Makerfield by-election, taking him a step closer to replacing Keir Starmer as prime minister. Opinion polls published in the run-up to polling day had indicated a closer contest between Burnham and his closest rival, Reform UK’s Robert Kenyon. However, Burnham won nearly 55 per cent of the vote in Makerfield, with Kenyon far behind on 34.5 per cent. Restore Britain’s Rebecca Shepherd came third on nearly seven per cent. Burnham, who must now resign as mayor of Greater Manchester to take up his role as MP, said his landslide victory was a “loud cry for change”, adding: “I do say to my own party – this is a final chance to change.” The by-election in the northwest of England has widely been described as one of the most consequential in British political history. Burnham, a former health secretary, is now expected to launch a bid to replace Starmer in No 10, supported by large numbers of Labour MPs. The manner of his victory in Makerfield …

Andy Burnham Wins Makerfield By-Election And Is Set To Become Prime Minister

Andy Burnham Wins Makerfield By-Election And Is Set To Become Prime Minister

Published by Sam Flores

Andy Burnham with supporters on polling day. Andy Burnham is on course to be the next prime minister after winning the Makerfield by-election. The Greater Manchester mayor comfortably saw off the challenge of Reform UK’s Robert Kenyon to become an MP again after a nine-year absence from Westminster. It means he has taken a major step towards realising his ambition of replacing Keir Starmer as PM. Burnham admitted two weeks ago that he is ready to challenge Starmer, whose premiership has been hanging by a thread since Labour were thrashed in the local elections on May 7. Around 100 Labour MPs publicly called for Starmer to stand down, while several ministers – including health secretary Wes Streeting – also resigned in protest at his leadership. Former minister Josh Simons then triggered the Makerfield by-election by standing down as the constituency’s MP to give Burnham the chance to return to Westminster. Shortly after 3am on Friday, it was confirmed that Burnham had won with 24,937 votes, Robert Kenyon in second place with 15,696. His majority of …

Why The Makerfield By-Election Is The Most Important In Living Memory

Why The Makerfield By-Election Is The Most Important In Living Memory

Published by Sam Flores

Campaign posters for Andy Burnham and for the Reform UK party are displayed in the town of Ashton-in-Makerfield. It isn’t just the names of the 14 candidates which are on the ballot paper as voters in Makerfield go to the polls today. The fate of the prime minister is also in the hands of the seat’s 77,000 constituents as they decide who should represent them at Westminster. That is why the by-election is the most important in British politics in living memory. It was triggered by sitting MP Josh Simon’s extraordinary decision to voluntarily stand down to give Andy Burnham the chance to become an MP again after a nine year absence. The Labour mayor of Greater Manchester, who has twice tried and failed to become the party’s leader, has made no secret of his ambition to become prime minister should he see off the challenge of Reform UK’s Robert Kenyon. Two weeks ago, during a special Makerfield edition of the BBC’s Question Time, he confirmed the worst kept secret in politics by admitting he …

Keir Starmer Hints At Top Cabinet Job For Andy Burnham If He Wins By-Election

Keir Starmer Hints At Top Cabinet Job For Andy Burnham If He Wins By-Election

Published by Sam Flores

Keir Starmer and Andy Burnham in 2024. Keir Starmer has hinted that he will offer his main rival Andy Burnham a top job in his cabinet if he wins the highly-anticipated Makerfield by-election tomorrow. Burnham, currently the Greater Manchester mayor, has said he will join a leadership contest to oust the prime minister if he becomes an MP again. But the PM has said that would cause “chaos” and has instead hinted at giving Burnham a key role in his government instead. Sky News’ Beth Rigby asked Starmer at the G7 summit in France if he would bring Burnham into his cabinet if he wins in Makerfield. He replied: “Oh, Andy is a great asset. And, yes, I want him to have a big role in government. When I came in to…” Rigby cut in: “Are you going to call him at the weekend and invite him back into your cabinet?” “Well I’m sure I’ll talk to Andy after the weekend, of course I will,” Starmer said. “I’ve spoken to him many times in recent …

News diary 15-21 June: G7 Summit, Andy Burnham stands in Makerfield by-election, Russell Brand in court

News diary 15-21 June: G7 Summit, Andy Burnham stands in Makerfield by-election, Russell Brand in court

Published by Sam Flores

The Observer front page from January 2026 as Andy Burnham’s original plan to challenge Keir Starmer was blocked. Picture: Shutterstock/Steve Travelguide Leaders of the world’s advanced economies will be brought together on Monday as the G7 Summit begins in France, discussing topics from energy and trade to conflict in Iran and Ukraine. On Thursday, voters will head to the polls in a key UK by-election following the Labour party’s Josh Simons stepping down to enable Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to seek a seat in parliament. The stakes are high for the mayor, who has expressed a desire to run for prime minister, but will face a challenge from Reform’s Robert Kenyon. The week also sees the World Cup continue, with matches including France versus Senegal, Ghana versus Panama and England’s opening match against Croatia on Wednesday. Leading the week Monday (June 15): Court of Appeal rules in Home Office challenge to Palestine Action ban repeal; G7 Summit begins in France; BMA resident doctors’ strikes begin. World Cup: Spain v Cabo Verde, Belgium v Egypt, …

'So What?': Nigel Farage Defends Reform By-Election Candidate's Sexist Comments

'So What?': Nigel Farage Defends Reform By-Election Candidate's Sexist Comments

Published by Sam Flores

Nigel Farage poses with Reform UK candidate Robert Kenyon. Nigel Farage has dismissed sexist and misogynistic comments made by Reform UK’s candidate in next week’s Makerfield by-election. The party leader said “so what” when asked about Robert Kenyon’s now-deleted social media posts. They include one in which he said women “can’t ref, drive or give instructions”. He also said women presenting rugby games on TV “aren’t up to the job and only there to tick a box”, adding: “I’m sexist, sorry but I am.” Campaign group Hope Not Hate also revealed that in 2021 Kenyon interacted with a social media message sent to former Countdown host Carol Vorderman, which read: “Happy birthday Carol, my God I would love to smell and lick your arsehole.” Kenyon replied, “he’s only saying what we’re all thinking,” along with a thumbs up and a laughing emoji. Vorderman has called Kenyon a misogynist, and told the Daily Mirror that she wanted “apology from Rob Kenyon, to me, and to all the other people he’s abused online.” The i paper revealed 2019 comments Kenyon posted on …