Burnham's 55% Makerfield Win Fuels Labour Push to Oust Starmer
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jun 19
Burnham's 55% Makerfield Win Fuels Labour Push to Oust Starmer
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jun 19
Summary
Labour MPs across factions now see a leadership contest against Keir Starmer as inevitable after Andy Burnham's Makerfield by-election win, with some describing Burnham's path to Downing Street as a likely "coronation."
81 MPs would be needed to put Burnham or another challenger on the ballot, and allies expect pressure on Wes Streeting—who says he has that backing—to stand aside for a swift transition.
Starmer has insisted he will run and, as incumbent leader, automatically reaches Labour members' ballot without needing MP nominations, blocking any true uncontested handover.
The immediate test is whether the prime minister still commands enough Labour MPs to run a functioning government, echoing the parliamentary pressure that forced Boris Johnson out in 2022.
With Reform UK surging, is Britain's two-party system officially dead, paving the way for a populist government?
Can the 'king of the North' truly unite a fractured UK, or is his victory just the start of more political chaos?
Labour in Turmoil: Burnham’s Makerfield Victory Sparks Immediate Leadership Challenge Amid Record Poll Slump
Overview
Andy Burnham’s decisive victory in the Makerfield by-election on June 19, 2026, immediately intensified the Labour Party’s leadership crisis. This win followed Labour’s poor performance in the May local elections, which had already led many lawmakers to demand Keir Starmer’s resignation. Despite this pressure, Starmer refused to step down, highlighting deep divisions within the party. Burnham’s success was seen by rivals like Wes Streeting as proof that Labour needed change, with Streeting threatening to force a leadership contest if Starmer did not resign. The by-election result became a clear signal of growing discontent and set the stage for a direct leadership challenge.