Huge win for Andy Burham, Reform a distant second - where to now?

Sky seem fairly sure Burnham will take over the Labour Party.

LBC panel are "left awestruck" by Burnham's by-election result calling it an "extraordinary, electric, Titanic result" He has not just won the by-election in Makerfield, he hasn't just squeaked in, he has absolutely stormed it with a majority of around 9,00. An absolute majority of over 50% of the vote in Makerfield.

"A Different Bias" gives the results.

Whatever the party, I am astonished that 16,000 functioning adults decided to cast their vote for a man that declared
" Women only seek abortions so that they can shag other men".
My mother would have offered to wash his mouth out with soap.

There are claims of tactical voting.
Perhaps the Lib Dem etc votes were so dire because their votes were 'donated', to keep out Reform?
And claims that some Reforms voted Labour to help trigger a leadership challenge.

Chocolatelovinggran

Whatever the party, I am astonished that 16,000 functioning adults decided to cast their vote for a man that declared
" Women only seek abortions so that they can shag other men".
My mother would have offered to wash his mouth out with soap.

And some of those voters will have been women who agree with that statement.

Chocolatelovinggran

Whatever the party, I am astonished that 16,000 functioning adults decided to cast their vote for a man that declared
" Women only seek abortions so that they can shag other men".
My mother would have offered to wash his mouth out with soap.

It’s shocking he ever said that.

Apparently he is a believer in Universal Basic Income so I’m sure there are the feckless that voted for him in the hope that they can sit on their backsides and get a nice wedge every month.

J52

Chocolatelovinggran

Whatever the party, I am astonished that 16,000 functioning adults decided to cast their vote for a man that declared
" Women only seek abortions so that they can shag other men".
My mother would have offered to wash his mouth out with soap.

And some of those voters will have been women who agree with that statement.

Unfortunately, some women are other women's worst enemies. They probably like to believe they're the kind of women who would never need an abortion.

The Guardian suggests "Size of Makerfield victory has many allies hoping outgoing Greater Manchester mayor will be installed in No 10 within days."

https://signal-corridor.live/uploads/talk/202606/medium-fz1z5q-screenshot-2026-06-19-at-09-25-49.png%3C/span%3E https://signal-corridor.live/uploads/talk/202606/medium-1rt9lo-screenshot-2026-06-19-at-09-29-23.png%3C/span%3E

Bring together difference sources …

Alistair Campbell on X:

A few thoughts. A huge by election win for Labour in normal times would be unalloyed good news for Labour leader. 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 23pc swing since May locals, and the biggest by-election turnout differential since 1958!! Not to be sniffed at. Not clear how next steps unfold, nor how key figures react, but boldness has been rewarded. Have felt for some time we are through peak Reform and this confirms it. They absolutely can be stopped. The money and Russia stuff hurts them. They have a ceiling. Their high profile Tory defectors damage them. Tactical voting is now commonplace to stop them.

Special edition of TRIP later today.

Graphics from Reform Party Exposed and Luke Tryl from More in Common.

Richard Tice on BBC this morning. He must be the best stand up comedian in the country today. The idea that a sizeable chunk of Reform voters decided to vote tactically for Labour is the best joke I've heard for a while.

An emphatic and very successful win by Burnham in a seat that overwhelmingly voted for Brexit and voted for Reform in local by elections just seven or so weeks ago. To lose in Makerfield is a big defeat.

There was no good news for Reform whatsoever. That Kenyon was the best candidate Farage had to offer when throwing everything at the by election to win- shows the dearth of talent in his party. It showed the world Farage's lack of ability to win when most needed and lack ability to form a functioning government.

The Restore vote also presents Farage with a growing challenge. I suspect the rise of Farage and Reform has peaked and its. downhill for them now.

I suspect Burnham will become PM in a short time period. He is now known as the man, with an election record that shows his ability to stop the rise of Farage and Reform. He has the ability to communicate his none divisive messages. He's on a path to change politics he said in his victory speech. It won't be an easy path- but I wish him luck and a fair wind.

I take heart from the fact that Burnham won decisively and if people voted to keep Reform out, so much the better. however, I find it disheartening that over 18K were prepared to vote for Reform or Restore!

LemonJam

An emphatic and very successful win by Burnham in a seat that overwhelmingly voted for Brexit and voted for Reform in local by elections just seven or so weeks ago. To lose in Makerfield is a big defeat.

There was no good news for Reform whatsoever. That Kenyon was the best candidate Farage had to offer when throwing everything at the by election to win- shows the dearth of talent in his party. It showed the world Farage's lack of ability to win when most needed and lack ability to form a functioning government.

The Restore vote also presents Farage with a growing challenge. I suspect the rise of Farage and Reform has peaked and its. downhill for them now.

I suspect Burnham will become PM in a short time period. He is now known as the man, with an election record that shows his ability to stop the rise of Farage and Reform. He has the ability to communicate his none divisive messages. He's on a path to change politics he said in his victory speech. It won't be an easy path- but I wish him luck and a fair wind.

I too wish him luck and I too am extremely relieved not to have yet another Reform MP, BUT, whilst I hope all will work out, this entire issue leaves a very sour taste in my mouth.

I’m not sure one MP stepping down to make way for another, so a leadership contest can be triggered against a serving PM completely meets my understanding of democracy. Though I understand many will disagree with me and agree with all of this for the good of both the party and country.

Cossy
whilst I hope all will work out, this entire issue leaves a very sour taste in my mouth.

I’m not sure one MP stepping down to make way for another, so a leadership contest can be triggered against a serving PM completely meets my understanding of democracy. Though I understand many will disagree with me and agree with all of this for the good of both the party and country.

Well put Cossy.
I wish Andy Burnham well. I hope he does as well as he has being a big fish in a little pond.
To solidify his position it would be good if he won a leadership contest too.
If he won a leadership contest it would highlight the support from the MPs, which has been withdrawn from KS by many.

AFP News Agency headline and video "Starmer insists 'nit going to walk away' if leadership contest triggered.

I'm still at a loss to see why Andy Burnham will be better as the leader of the party. What hidden talents does he have that will make him the one who will not be shredded into pieces right from the beginning by the media.
Anyway Farage is on the way to getting what he wanted , division in the country and Keir Starmer out .?Surely that's why he fielded the candidate he did. Putin will be smiling.

We have to wait and see if he’s any better as a leader, but he’s quite nice to look at! #Shallow me.

It’s quite obvious what Andy Burnham brings to the party, apart from previous senior ministerial experience westendgirl, charisma and personal popularity. There is no way Labour would have won this by election if he didn’t have those two factors. That is his major competing point with Farage, and with Starmer.

J52

We have to wait and see if he’s any better as a leader, but he’s quite nice to look at! #Shallow me.

🤣🤣🤣🤣 Nothing wrong with a bit of eye candy! Look at President Macron!

Graphite Fri 19-Jun-26 09:32:05

Thanks Graphite. At least AC is humble enough to put points forward without saying he knows exactly what will happen. I'll watch out for the podcast - it should be interesting!

Casdon

It’s quite obvious what Andy Burnham brings to the party, apart from previous senior ministerial experience westendgirl, charisma and personal popularity. There is no way Labour would have won this by election if he didn’t have those two factors. That is his major competing point with Farage, and with Starmer.

However, it does need highlighting that he did lose two previous leadership votes in 2010 and 2015, and I believe in the Labour Labour the current leader automatically stands unless they step down, my understanding is they don’t need nominations? Though I could be wrong

foxie48

I take heart from the fact that Burnham won decisively and if people voted to keep Reform out, so much the better. however, I find it disheartening that over 18K were prepared to vote for Reform or Restore!

electionresults.wigan.gov.uk/ParliamentaryElections/Home/Index/3#:~:text=Makerfield,Labour%20and%20Co%2Doperative%20Party

conservative vote 997 or whatever
even Restore got 3 times that many

J52

We have to wait and see if he’s any better as a leader, but he’s quite nice to look at! #Shallow me.

Fabulous eyelashes