Makerfield by-election: It’s the final campaign day — live updates

Andy Burnham cleared a major hurdle in his quest to become Britain’s next prime minister, decisively winning the Makerfield by-election.

Burnham comfortably beat his nearest rival, Reform UK’s Robert Kenyon, by more than 9,000 votes, a win which will significantly boost his standing among fellow Labour MPs who are already considering ditching Keir Starmer, whose popularity has tanked with the British public. 

Starmer embarked on a frantic ring around of his top team Friday as he sought to steady his government. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander became the third known Cabinet minister to privately tell him to set out a timetable for his departure, joining Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband.

At a victory rally on Friday morning, Burnham told supporters that he is ready to “lay out a new path for Britain.”

He spoke beyond the usual limits of a local politician giving a victory speech that addressed wider societal problems across Britain — from the “unfairness” of the immigration system to overhauling education.

Shortly before his rally, Burnham’s team confirmed that a new website – andyburnham.org.uk – belongs to them.

Key allies of Burnham have told POLITICO that he would like to be in Downing Street before September.

Earlier Friday, Starmer doubled down on his promise to stand if a leadership contest is triggered. “If there is a contest, just to be clear with you, then yes I will run, I will stand and I’ve said repeatedly I’m not going to walk away from that.”

Burnham’s victory bucked a national trend toward Reform. While the right-wing populist Reform UK tops national polls, the party’s bruising in Makerfield is a setback to Nigel Farage’s own plans to run Britain. His party has faced its own challenge on the right from the smaller Restore Britain.

POLITICO covered all the latest as the Makerfield consequences unfolded.