Sir Keir Starmer has warned that a leadership challenge could plunge the country “into chaos” as he called on the party to “pull together” and “take the fight” to Reform in the Greater Manchestor Mayoralty contest.
It comes after Andy Burnham pledged to “lay out a new path for Britain” at a rally following his landslide Makerfield by-election win, in another hint of his plans to challenge the prime minister for Labour leadership.
In his victory rally, the former Greater Manchester mayor said: “The word Makerfield in the future must be known as a byword for the change that came to British politics. This is the moment.”
The prime minister has vowed to stand in any contest should one be triggered, after he vowed he would not “walk away”.
He told Labour staff members during a lunchtime call: “The one thing we've got to avoid doing is plunging our party and our country into chaos by turning on each other and tearing apart our party and our movement. That has never worked. That's what the last government did. We need to learn that lesson.”
Nigel Farage was also dealt a blow with Mr Burnham winning the by-election by 9,231 votes, despite Reform UK performing best in last month’s local elections.
Read MoreAndy Burnham wins Makerfield by-election landslide to pave way for challenge to Keir Starmer
Andy Burnham: The ‘King of the North’ who could be the next prime minister
Who are Andy Burnham’s key allies in Westminster?
Makerfield by-election key points
- Andy Burnham wins landslide victory in Makerfield by-election
- Burnham: Labour has a “final chance to change”
- Starmer says he will stand in any leadership contest
- Analysis: Reform cannot win a general election – and Makerfield has shown us why
- Starmer congratulates Burnham over Makerfield win
- Burnham win triggers mayoral by-election with vote likely at end of July
What Andy Burnham as prime minister might mean for your mortgage, taxes and more
14:01 , Holly EvansAndy Burnham’s landslide win of the Makerfield by-election has Britons wondering if he could really be the next prime minister and, if he is, what that might mean for their finances.
We’ve all seen politicians say they plan to do one thing, and ultimately be incapable or unwilling to make it happen – so it remains to be seen if Mr Burnham in No 10 would be able replicate the success he has seen as mayor of Greater Manchester.
But, based on what he has previously said on the economy, The Independent takes a look at how your pocket might be impacted in the event of a change in leadership.
Read the full article here:
What Andy Burnham as prime minister might mean for your money
Watch: Starmer insists he will stand in any leadership contest after Burnham win
13:44 , Holly EvansStreeting ally says he has support to launch leadership race
13:32 , Holly EvansOne of Wes Streeting’s closest allies has said he has the necessary support to stand in a leadership race.
Labour MP Melanie Ward said that all of the key players, including Andy Burnham, need to speak to each other over the weekend to decide on an orderly transition of power.
Speaking to Vicki Young on Politics Live, she says: "In the life of any captain of a team … there comes a time when the captain has to hand over the armband - a time when the captain has lost the dressing room."
Ward also said Mr Streeting is "prepared to speak to the other key players and work out a different way through this".
Will Makerfield regret electing Andy Burnham?
13:14 , Holly EvansI’ve known Andy Burnham for a long time. Exactly two years ago, I found myself and a film crew standing with him on the hallowed turf at the home of Wigan Warriors, talking not just about politics but about family, football, ambition and what drives somebody to keep going in a profession that can be as brutal as politics often is.
During the course of that conversation, I managed to persuade him to commit to the all-night general election special I was hosting on Sky News, which took rather more arm-twisting than I had originally anticipated.
As two people from the area discussing the prospect of an all-nighter, I suspect I probably made some joke or other about Wigan Casino and suggested the television version would be considerably less fun, but there would be Percy Pigs when we needed a sugar rush in the middle of the night. It swung the deal.
Read the full analysis from former Sky News broadcaster Kay Burley here:
Will Makerfield regret electing Andy Burnham?
Labour backbencher calls on Starmer to set out timetable for exit
12:52 , Bryony GoochA Labour backbencher said the prime minister should set out his timetable to exit Downing Street following Andy Burnham’s victory in Makerfield.
Jon Trickett for Normanton and Hemsworth said: “The north’s voice has been heard.
“Andy Burnham’s win in Makerfield is a victory for the Labour movement as a whole which fought a properly organised campaign to defeat the toxic anti-working class politics of the far right.
“In the wake of the by election, it’s clear that Farage and his hard-right acolytes can be defeated.
“However, there can be no more messing about.
“Keir Starmer has to immediately state a timetable for his departure as leader, as he is an obstacle to defeating Farage at the next general election.”
Starmer calls on party to 'pull together' and 'take the fight' to Reform in Greater Manchester Mayoralty contest
12:45 , Bryony GoochKeir Starmer this lunchtime has held a call with Labour staff members across the country to thank them for their work on the Makerfield by-election.
The PM said the party needs to “pull together”, “take the fight” to Reform and “give them a hiding” in the Greater Manchester Mayoralty contest.
“Let's pull together as a party and a movement. The one thing we've got to avoid doing is plunging our party and our country into chaos by turning on each other and tearing apart our party and our movement. That has never worked. That's what the last government did. We need to learn that lesson.”
What has Andy Burnham said about immigration policy?
12:42 , Bryony GoochAs Andy Burnham looks set to challenge Sir Keir Starmer, he has focused on immigration, the cost of living and reindustrialisation as he set out policy priorities.
The former mayor of Greater Manchester said he had repeatedly heard voters voice concerns about the “unfairness of the immigration system” during the campaign.
He took a swipe at the Home Office over areas becoming “HMO Britain”, referring to the practice of housing asylum seekers in houses of multiple occupation (HMOs).
He said: “These are the kind of changes that we need if we are to give hope to young people growing up in this part of the world.
“A change too, from the Home Office. I heard on so many doorsteps people’s concerns about the unfairness of the immigration system, that cut-price approach to procurement, that means areas like this can end up like HMO Britain.
“It’s not fair that they think that they can just operate like that and not hear the call of people here, the decent people here, who always will do the right thing, the compassionate thing, but not when it’s unfair in terms of the way places like this are treated.”
In pictures: Andy Burnham addresses supporters in Makerfield
12:35 , Bryony Gooch
CBI warns government against a 'summer of speculation and drift' ahead of leadership challenge
12:22 , Bryony GoochThe Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has warned the government against a “summer of speculation and drift” ahead of an expected leadership challenge.
Rain Newton-Smith, chief executive of the influential business group, said: “The UK cannot afford a summer of speculation and drift while politicians are distracted by internal party dynamics.
“The government must remain focused on delivery and implementation.
“For strong, stable economic growth you need strong, stable, consistent government.
“Political uncertainty dampens business confidence and investment, impacting job creation, wages and the cost of living.”
She added: “Business needs to know that the government can take big decisions, will deliver on its commitments and is prepared to tackle the rising costs of doing business.”
‘I voted for Andy’ - Makerfield residents swayed by the Labour candidate rather than party
12:07 , Bryony GoochThe Independent’s senior reporter Dan Haygarth reports from Makerfield:
Andy Burnham’s campaign material, though Labour red, had little reference to the party on them. And his victory in the Makerfield by-election seems to be more to do with him than the party he represents.
Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour were roundly rejected in Wigan at last month’s local elections but Mr Burnham has now pulled off a storming victory. When asked who they voted for, people that have spoken to The Independent in Ashton in Makerfield this morning, have largely said “I voted for Andy”.
This morning’s result feels like an endorsement of him, not necessarily a vote for Labour, and the party still has work to do to rehabilitate its image in what were once heartland areas like this.
How the Tories pulled off their biggest Scottish ‘heist’ in 60 almost years
12:01 , Holly EvansThe last time the Conservatives won a Westminster by-election in Scotland was in 1967 when they took Glasgow Pollok off Labour in a shock victory.
Now Kemi Badenoch has led her party to victory in Aberdeen South in what Tory insiders freely admit was a “heist” against the SNP who were defending the seat.
The Aberdeen South had become the “forgotten by-election” with all attention on Andy Burnham’s battle with Reform in Makerfield - but the Tories wanted it that way.
The party’s chief executive Lord Mark McInnes gave out strict instructions to MPs and others in the Tories to not talk up their opportunities in the seat and say it was “probably” an SNP victory.
They then quietly set out to make it a referendum on net zero and Ed Miliband and the SNP’s anti-oil and gas drilling policies in the North Sea.
Ms Badenoch visited three times without much fuss and deployed her shadow energy secretary Claire Coutinho for the final PMQs with David Lammy to drive home the message.
Added to that was the fact that the Peter Murrell case over corruption in the SNP hung over the whole contest.
The result was a huge tactical vote in favour of the Tories giving them almost 50 per cent - a massive margin of victory which even the most optimistic person in CCHQ did not see coming.
PM's spokesperson denies there is a vacancy in No 10 Downing Street
11:53 , Millie CookeThe prime minister's official spokesperson denied that there is a vacancy for the prime minister's job amid pressure on him to step down following Andy Burnham's victory in the Makerfield by-election.
He also reiterated that Sir Keir Starmer would fight any leadership challenge, saying he has "been crystal clear about that for some time now".
It is understood the prime minister has passed his congratulations to Andy Burnham, but has not spoken to him directly.
Asked whether there is a vacancy for the PM's job, his spokesperson said: "No, I think the prime minister has been very clear this morning. There's more to do."
And asked whether there are any preparations in the civil service for change at the top of government, the spokesperson added: "The civil service, as you would expect, is working on the delivery business of government, and that continues”
Badenoch urges Labour to back new drilling in the North Sea
11:51 , Holly EvansLabour is “obsessed” with internal party “drama”, Kemi Badenoch said, as she urged the UK Government to instead focus on issues such as energy and security.
The Conservative leader urged the Labour Government to back new drilling in the North Sea – calling for the controversial Jackdaw and Rosebank developments to be given the go-ahead.
This, she argued, would boost the UK’s national security, insisting the country needs to “drill our own oil in the North Sea, not take oil from Russia”.
She made the plea as she celebrated the Conservatives’ victory in the Aberdeen South by-election after the party dramatically won the seat from the SNP.
The Tories had focused their campaign on the future of the North Sea oil and gas industry – much of which is based in the city – making a “referendum” on the issued.
Speaking in Aberdeen on Friday with new MP Douglas Lumsden, Mrs Badenoch said: “What this means is that we have won that referendum on oil and gas.
“Aberdeen has sent a message to the Labour Government and to the SNP that we will not be ignored, Aberdeen will not be ignored, the centre will not be ignored.”
Watch: Ex-Greater Manchester mayor vows 'new path for Britain' in Makerfield victory rally
11:41 , Holly EvansCheers and a renewed sense of optimism as Burnham pledges to put Makerfield at the heart of a new plan for Labour
11:26 , Holly EvansOur reporter Dan Haygarth reports from Ashton Town FC:
The North West of England has long been Labour’s heartlands, but May’s local elections saw voters reject Sir Keir Starmer’s party in their droves.
Reform UK was the main beneficiary in the borough of Wigan, where it took 24 seats - ten of those wards fall within the parliamentary constituency of Makerfield, either wholly or partly, and Reform candidates won every single one of them.
Today, as Andy Burnham addressed the media in the constituency, surrounded by supporters, following a resounding victory over Reform, he presented that victory as the blueprint for how Labour must respond.
The loudest cheers of the speech at Ashton Town FC came when Mr Burnham laid out how his constituency would come to represent the new path he believes the Labour Party must fallow.
“The word Makerfield in the future must be known as a byword for the change that came to British politics”, Mr Burnham said.
“This is the moment.We’ve been on a path for 40 years that simply hasn’t worked for people and places in this part of the world, and this now is the change moment.
“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.”
There is a renewed sense of optimism among the party here, as if Labour has worked out how it counters the threat of the insurgent Reform.
Burnham tackles immigration and changes to Home Office
11:19 , Holly EvansAndy Burnham said he wanted to see changes from the Home Office to stop areas becoming “HMO Britain”.
He said: “These are the kind of changes that we need if we are to give hope to young people growing up in this part of the world.
“And yet, a change too, from the Home Office, I heard on so many doorsteps people’s concerns about the unfairness of the immigration system, that cut-price approach to procurement, that means areas like this can end up like HMO Britain.
“It’s not fair that they think that they can just operate like that and not hear the call of people here, the decent people here, who always will do the right thing, the compassionate thing, but not when it’s unfair in terms of the way places like this are treated.”
Analysis: Andy Burnham has just made his leadership pitch - and it can be summed up in three words
11:14 , Holly EvansRead the latest analysis from our political editor David Maddox here:
With Labour MPs now demanding a coronation of Andy Burnham to replace Keir Starmer, the new MP for Makerfield has wasted little time in setting out his pitch to lead Labour and the government.
It can be summed up in three words - economy, industry and education.
In his morning victory rally, Mr Burnham has warned that his crushing win over Reform represents the "last chance to change" the Labour Party.
He set out his objectives as prime minister, insisting that Labour has to do something "to make life affordable" again and find a way to "give people more breathing space, so they can have a better life".
"We need an economy that works for everybody," he said, adding that there needs to be a “reindustrialisation” of Britain and major reform to education.
The momentum is all there and he is now articulating the vision if not yet the specifics. But while it may take a few days to launch a leadership bid, the contest is now fully underway.
Burnham calls for 'an end to trickle-down economics' in speech
11:11 , Holly EvansAndy Burnham called for reindustrialisation and changes to the education system as he spoke to supporters after being elected Makerfield MP.
He said: “We do need an end to trickle-down economics, which didn’t trickle down very much at all to places like this.
“We want to see a new drive of reindustrialisation across the north of England, and indeed the rest of the country, and big change in Whitehall if that is to happen, and I’m talking about public procurement.
“It’s about time we started backing British business and British industry, so that we can reindustrialise places like this, and, yes, let’s change the education system so that young people growing up here have clear paths into that new industry.
“No more an education system dominated by the university route, but an education system that offers a path for everybody, academic and technical, in equal balance.
“That’s what we need if we are to change this.”
He said public procurement should be used to “get more work placements for people, a guarantee of a work placement for every 16 to 18 year old who wants one, the guarantee of an apprenticeship”.
'A new path for Britain', Burnham says
11:00 , Holly EvansIn a speech to supporters, Andy Burnham has called for a “new path for Britain” and has vowed to work “relentlessly” as an MP to ensure change.
It is widely expected that the former Greater Manchester mayor will challenge Sir Keir Starmer for the Labour leadership.
He said: “What is that change? You did talk about the need to change Labour in this campaign and we’ve got to take this moment to answer the challenges being laid down.
“I described it last night as a last chance to chance and I think that’s how people saw it.”
He added: “We’re going to take it. We are going to take that opportunity and lay out a new path for Britain.”
Referring to the division currently existing in the United States, he said: “The best things we can say about last night was there was a risk we’d see Britain and the politics of our country going down the path of greater darkness and division.
“We will not let that happen, we will bring people back together. I will be a member of parliament for everybody however they voted.”
Burnham thanks Josh Simons for stepping aside
10:55 , Holly EvansAndy Burnham has thanked the former Makerfield MP Josh Simons for stepping aside, to allow him a chance to return to Westminster.
Referring to the local election results, he said: “You will all know if you go back to May, in this part of the world people here made a quite clear call for change, in fact it was more of an instruction for things had to change.
“Somebody right here behind me understood how serious that call was and I’m talking about Josh Simons. Such was the power of what people said in early May, you realised it couldn’t be business as usual.
“It needed a response, a profound response and you were incredibly selfless in stepping forward and working with me.
“It is is a significant sacrifice you and the family made but I know you did it for all of the right reasons and I think it’s important for me to put those reasons on the record and to thank you publicly for what you do.”
Cheers for Burnham as mood buoyant at victory rally
10:48 , Holly EvansOur reporter Dan Haygarth reports from Ashton Town FC:
Andy Burnham has arrived at a victory rally at local non-league football club Ashton Town FC after his comprehensive win in the Makerfield by-election.
The club’s scoreboard reads “Home 1-0 Visitors” and the ground is packed out with Labour activists and supporters, including his predecessor Josh Simons and his campaign leads Louise Haigh and Anneliese Midgley.
The new MP for Makerfield was greeted by cheers and applause in what is a buoyant atmosphere for Labour - one which feels worlds away from its local election drubbings last month.
Former Makerfield MP attends victory rally
10:47 , Holly Evans
Andy Burnham set to speak
10:42 , Holly EvansThe newly elected Makerfield MP is set to give a speech at a victory rally at Ashton Town FC.
We’ll be bringing you all the latest from Andy Burnham here.
Analysis: What does Burnham's victory mean?
10:35 , Holly EvansStarmer urges Labour to 'pull together' to fight for Manchester mayoralty
10:25 , Millie CookeSir Keir Starmer has urged the Labour Party to "pull together" to fight for the Greater Manchester mayoralty following Andy Burnham's resignation and return to Westminster.
Asked whether he would fight in a leadership race, the prime minister told reporters: "There isn't one at the moment, but as I've said on many, many occasions, I don't think that's a good thing for the country to plunge us into chaos. I would also add now that Andy has won - which is really important, really good, is a huge asset to us - that now there will inevitably be a Manchester mayoralty by-election starting straight away, so it's important that we pull together for that.
"But if there is a contest, then yes, I will run, I will stand, and I've said repeatedly I'm not going to walk away from that."
In pictures: Supporters gather at Andy Burnham victory rally
10:23 , Holly EvansOur reporters Dan Haygarth and Camille Chorley will be bringing you all the latest from Andy Burnham’s victory rally.
Starmer says he will speak to Andy Burnham
10:19 , Millie CookeSir Keir Starmer has admitted that he has not yet spoken to Andy Burnham, but said that he plans to do so as it is widely expected he will launch a leadership challenge.
He told reporters: "I haven't spoken to Andy directly yet, but I will.
“I have said my congratulations to him, so we're very clear about that. And it is a really important victory that he's got there."
Burnham victory shows 'tide is turning' on Reform, says Starmer
10:17 , Holly EvansAndy Burnham's victory in Makerfield shows the "tide is turning on Reform", Sir Keir Starmer has said.
He told reporters: "Let me start by saying this was a very good victory in the by-election and I've sent my congratulations to Andy Burnham and I repeat them here. And actually, my thanks to all our activists and campaigners who fought so hard over the last few weeks in what turned out to be a real battle of values, Labour values against divisive Reform values and a very divisive candidate. So that is a really really good outcome."
He added: "I think it's further evidence, if you look at it in the context of other by-elections, that the tide is turning on Reform.
“That they can't now win by-elections, they've reached probably the peak of their support and its going down.
"So very good, congratulations for Andy Burnham, but actually the tide is turning on Reform as well."
Live: Andy Burnham holds press conference after crucial Makerfield by-election win
10:13 , Holly Evans'I will not walk away' Starmer says he will stand in any leadership contest
10:05 , Millie CookeSir Keir Starmer has reiterated that he will stand in a Labour leadership contest should one be triggered after Andy Burnham returns to Westminster, adding he will not “walk away”.
The prime minister has repeatedly made the same claim in recent weeks, but his latest intervention will dispel growing speculation that he might decide to resign in the wake of Mr Burnham's victory.
Starmer pictured visiting a housing development in London
10:05 , Holly Evans
Andy Burnham set to address supporters
10:01 , Holly EvansAndy Burnham is set to address supporters at a victory rally at Ashton FC at 10:30am.
In an address shortly after his election as Makerfield MP, he said it was a “turning point” for the Labour party and was a “final chance for change”.
Analysis: Reform cannot win a general election – and Makerfield has shown us why
09:52 , Holly EvansThe Reform bubble has spectacularly burst in Makerfield with the party’s crushing defeat to Andy Burnham – and shows exactly why Nigel Farage will never become prime minister.
While the by-election itself will not be the reason for the demise of Reform’s hopes, it has shone a spotlight on why the idea that the party could march into Downing Street was somehow inevitable, was always very wide of the mark.
What we are seeing unfold is very similar to what happened in 1983 with the insurgent Social Democratic Party (SDP) picking up more than 25 per cent of the votes but only winning 23 seats.
Read the full analysis here from our political editor David Maddox:
Reform cannot win a general election – and Makerfield has shown us why
Richard Tice: Andy Burnham has splinters in his backside because he sits on so many fences
09:48 , Holly EvansEx-defence minister Al Carns does not rule out launching leadership challenge
09:45 , Kate DevlinThe MP, who quit the government last week in protest at a lack of defence spending, has not ruled out a tilt at the top job this morning.
Asked if he still had leadership ambitions, he told LBC: “I haven't made a decision at all yet. What I want, what I would like, and I think what the country needs, is a really clear and concise debate around what policies we're going to take as we move forward."
On whether Andy Burnham would become the next PM, he added “there is time to play out on this. Let’s watch the next 48 hours, 3 or 4 days. I think that will be critical.”
Ex-defence minister Al Carns does not rule out launching leadership challenge
09:45 , Kate DevlinThe MP, who quit the government last week in protest at a lack of defence spending, has not ruled out a tilt at the top job this morning.
Asked if he still had leadership ambitions, he told LBC: “I haven't made a decision at all yet. What I want, what I would like, and I think what the country needs, is a really clear and concise debate around what policies we're going to take as we move forward."
On whether Andy Burnham would become the next PM, he added “there is time to play out on this. Let’s watch the next 48 hours, 3 or 4 days. I think that will be critical.”
Burnham backer warns Starmer losing a Labour leadership contest would be ‘humiliating for a sitting prime minister’
09:31 , Holly EvansJon Trickett, the Labour MP for Normanton and Hemsworth, has added his voice to calls for a Burnham coronation - with a stark warning to Starmer.
The prime minister needs to "stand down in a dignified and graceful way" as it would be "humiliating for a sitting prime minister to lose the vote of his own party" he told Times Radio.
He called on him to have a “quiet think”, adding “for one reason or another, our current prime minister can't hack it with the people, especially in the north of England. I do think he needs to stand down in a dignified and graceful way.”
Calls growing for a quick Burnham ‘coronation’ and for Starmer to step down
09:24 , Holly EvansOur political editor David Maddox says:
The size of Andy Burnham’s victory margin in Makerfield has put to bed talk of the need for a Labour leadership contest in the minds of many Labour MPs and figures who are now calling for a “coronation.”
Liverpool Riverside MP Kim Johnson said: “There definitely needs to be a coronation now.”
Karl Turner said: “Keir Starmer just isn’t up to it. There needs to be a coronation.”
A senior Scottish Labour MP said: “I expect there will be a coronation now.”
A Labour MP on the right of the party who had planned to be part of a different candidate’s leadership team conceded: “I think a coronation is looking very likely now but I am not sure what it will look like.”
Former shadow chancellor John McDonnell was in tears on LBC listening to Mr Burnham’s victory speech.He said: “Keir [Starmer] has to recognise that it is time to move on. Let’s plan it properly, let’s not divide the party, let’s try and do it with a bit of dignity and what we describe in the party as comradeship.”
Another MP told The Independent: “It has been over for Keir for some time now we need to make a change with a minimum of fuss. Andy’s win and the margin makes it inevitable that he becomes leader now.”
Another said: “Wes [Streeting] should just cut a deal with Burnham so we don’t have to have a long drawn out contest and get on with governing.”
Tony Blair’s former director of communication Alastair Campbell added: “These are not normal times and this was not a normal by-election. Pressure on Keir Starmer grows because MPs see in Burnham the possibility of stopping Reform and reversing sense of pessimism.
“A 23 per cent swing since May locals, and the biggest by-election turnout differential since 1958! Not to be sniffed at. Boldness has been rewarded.”
Watch: Nigel Farage responds to Makerfield by-election result
09:19 , Millie CookeStarmer pictured leaving Downing Street
09:08 , Millie CookeSir Keir Starmer has been pictured leaving the back of Downing Street, hours after his political rival Andy Burnham announced victory in the Makerfield by-election.
Labour MP calls on Starmer to 'read the room' and resign
09:05 , Millie CookeSir Keir Starmer needs to "read the room" and resign following Andy Burnham's dramatic victory in Makerfield, an ally of the Manchester politician has said.
Labour MP for York Outer Luke Charters urged the PM to step down after Mr Burnham won a majority of 9,231.
Speaking to LBC, he said: “I think it’d be good this weekend for the PM to take heed of what was an absolutely seismic and colossal message here... I think the prime minister should look at that.
“If he thinks he could have delivered that, I’m afraid the electoral arithmetic shows he didn’t deliver that. The PM’s got to really quickly reflect on and read the room here on what’s happening here in Makerfield.”
Labour MP calls on Starmer to 'read the room' and resign
09:05 , Millie CookeSir Keir Starmer needs to "read the room" and resign following Andy Burnham's dramatic victory in Makerfield, an ally of the Manchester politician has said.
Labour MP for York Outer Luke Charters urged the PM to step down after Mr Burnham won a majority of 9,231.
Speaking to LBC, he said: “I think it’d be good this weekend for the PM to take heed of what was an absolutely seismic and colossal message here... I think the prime minister should look at that.
“If he thinks he could have delivered that, I’m afraid the electoral arithmetic shows he didn’t deliver that. The PM’s got to really quickly reflect on and read the room here on what’s happening here in Makerfield.”
Gilt yields climb after Burnham election and rise in state borrowing
08:57 , Holly EvansThe cost of Government borrowing has ticked slightly higher on Friday morning, following Andy Burnham’s win in the Makerfield by-election.
The 10-year yield on UK gilts – Government bonds – rose by 0.05 percentage points to 4.81 per cent shortly after the market opened.
The move is largely similar to changes in the value of European bonds, which have been impacted by a fresh rise in oil prices overnight.
On Friday morning, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) also reported higher-than-expected Government borrowing figures for May.
The rise in monthly borrowing, which was driven by record May debt interest costs, is also likely to have contributed to the increase in gilt yields.
Gilts yields move counter to the value of the bonds, meaning they have dipped in value during earlier trading.
Meanwhile, the value of the pound was roughly flat for the day at 1.320 versus the dollar.
It had fallen by as much as 0.5 per cent following Mr Burnham’s election but has seen these losses pull back entirely within two hours.
Meanwhile, the FTSE 100 opened marginally lower, dipping by 0.02 per cent to 10,397.68 points.
Former Starmer ally calls for 'transition to something new'
08:48 , Holly EvansAnother Labour MP has called on Sir Keir Starmer to stand aside, after Andy Burnham’s sweeping victory in Makerfield.
Patrick Hurley, the Labour MP for Southport, had been loyal to the prime minister until Friday.
Seaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Mr Hurley said: “Right now, we need a transition to something new.”
He said: “I’ve spent many weeks campaigning in the local elections and in this by-election, and people are telling me over and over again that Keir’s strengths is not what the country needs now.”
He added: “He’ll go down in history as a monumental figure in Labour Party politics. He absolutely changed the party from top to bottom after the defeat in 2019 which was a historic defeat and within five years he’d taken us a historic victory”.
Could Keir Starmer resign and who are the top contenders to replace him as prime minister?
08:37 , Holly EvansAndy Burnham’s victory in the Makerfield by-election has paved the way for a leadership challenge against Sir Keir Starmer, amid mounting calls for him to resign as prime minister.
His victory has been seen by some as proof that the former Greater Manchester mayor can beat Reform, with Mr Burnham’s allies calling on the prime minister to now hand over power.
Yet Wes Streeting has voiced his own intention to launch a leadership bids, while other MPs are said to be rallying support in previous weeks.
Here, The Independent looks at each of the potential leadership candidates, while readers can also share their thoughts:
When might Starmer resign and who could replace him as prime minister?
Nigel Farage says he is 'disappointed' with result as voters turned to Restore
08:23 , Holly EvansReform UK leader Nigel Farage said he was “disappointed” with the party’s vote share as it came second to Labour in the Makerfield by-election and urged people who voted for Restore Britain to “think again”.
He said the by-election had been an “emphatic” win for Andy Burnham, and said the campaign for many had been a “Get Starmer Out” vote.
In a direct appeal to Restore voters, he said: “I thought we’d get 18,000 votes. We got just shy of 16,000 so I’m disappointed by that, no question about it.
“But I would say this, there’s a couple thousand voters there who normally have gone out and voted Reform that voted Restore, and I will say directly to them ‘What do you want?’.
“We are the challenger party to the Left in this country, and I would urge you to think again. I really, really would.”
Who is Andy Burnham, the so-called 'King of the North?'
08:22 , Holly EvansAndy Burnham is the state-educated son of a BT engineer and receptionist. He joined the Labour Party aged 15 and subsequently attended Cambridge University, rising up the political ranks to become one of the most senior and successful elected Labour politicians outside Parliament.
A former special adviser to Mr Blair’s culture secretary Chris Smith, Mr Burnham was one of New Labour’s rising stars.
Shortly after his election in 2001, he was made a parliamentary aide to the then-home secretary David Blunkett, a sign he was being groomed for bigger things.
Ministerial jobs followed, first as a junior minister in the Home Office, and then in the Department of Health, before Mr Brown’s move into Number 10 brought him into the cabinet as chief secretary to the Treasury.
But it was as culture secretary that he took on an issue that has become a cornerstone of his career – the fight for justice for the victims of the Hillsborough disaster.
Labour was defeated in the 2010 general election and, after Mr Brown’s resignation, Mr Burnham made his first bid for the leadership – losing to Mr Miliband.
In 2015 he was again beaten in a leadership contest – this time by Mr Corbyn, who later promoted him to shadow home secretary.
Mr Burnham stood down as an MP in 2017 after finding himself at odds with the Westminster establishment, and was elected as the first metro mayor of Greater Manchester.
His prominent dispute with then-prime minister Boris Johnson over Covid-19 pandemic funding famously earned him the moniker “King of the North”.
He is married with three children and is known to be a lifelong supporter of Everton FC and is an avid runner.
Why Starmer’s allies still think he could win a Labour leadership election against Burnham
08:16 , Holly EvansAnalysis by Kate Devlin, Whitehall Editor
As Keir Starmer wakes up to Andy Burnham’s resounding victory, the question for his supporters now is will he take part in a Labour leadership contest against the new MP for Makerfield.
For weeks they have been wargaming what that might look like - and believe they have found a pathway that would allow him to win.
For starters, unlike Burnham, he would not need the support of 80-odd Labour MPs to get on the ballot paper.
Instead, as the serving party leader, he would have an automatic place. That means Sir Keir could effectively bypass his disaffected MPs and direct his message straight to the Labour membership – who, alongside affiliated supporters, would have the final say.
“Labour members are not Corbynistas any more, many of them joined because of Keir. They like him”, one ally recently told The Independent.
And then there is the third reason - that Burnham has lost two Labour leadership contests, already.
“If he loses a third time do we get to keep him?” one Labour minister joked.
But those losses were in very different circumstances and before Mr Burnham became a hugely popular Labour mayor. The scale of his win in Makerfield means that narrow path to victory for Sir Keir looks even more difficult this morning.
“I’m just glad to see him back in. I'm made up” - Ashton-in-Makerfield wakes up to a new MP
08:14 , Dan HaygarthThe Makerfield constituency is waking up to the news that Andy Burnham is its new MP.
On the walk into Ashton-in-Makerfield, the market town at the heart of this parliamentary seat, plenty of Mr Burnham’s posters and signs were on display, with a smattering of support for Reform and Restore - reflected in the storming win in this by-election for the soon to be former Greater Manchester mayor.
One man delighted by the result is Stephen Tilley, 60.
As he waits for a bus in the town centre, when asked who got his vote, Mr Tilley is clear - “I voted for Andy”.
The lifelong Labour voter tells The Independent that he was worried that this seat could have been lost to Reform if Mr Burnham had not been on the ballot, but he believes his new MP has an ability to connect with voters here.
He added: “I've had my picture taken with him, and he came over [as] a lovely person. Well, he's local, isn't he? He's local and I think that's partly why people voted for him, because he lives in Leigh, he was MP there for years.
“And he’s done well as [Greater Manchester] mayor, he's got the buses, the Bee Network buses.”
Though Mr Tilley says he is a fan of Keir Starmer and would never vote for any other party than Labour, he is excited by the prospect of his new MP taking the keys to Downing Street, if (or when) he does mount a challenge to Sir Keir.
“He’d solve problems in places like this”, Mr Tilley says. “He’d make it a better place with investment. I’m just glad to see him back in. I'm made up.”
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