Burnham victory intensifies pressure on UK PM Starmer (opens in new tab)

Andy Burnham won the Makerfield by-election in northwest England, returning to the House of Commons and gaining the parliamentary status needed to challenge Prime Minister Keir Starmer for the Labour leadership. Burnham took 54.8% of the vote, ahead of Reform UK candidate Robert Kenyon with 34.5%, with 45,510 votes cast and turnout near 58.8%. Starmer said he would stand in any Labour leadership contest and would not “walk away.” Several reports said senior ministers and Labour MPs were press...