Ballot papers are being tallied in Makerfield in northwest England after voters cast their verdict in a by-election that many see as a potential turning point for British politics.
Andy Burnham, Labour’s candidate in the Greater Manchester constituency and a former minister aiming to return to parliament with the stated goal of unseating Keir Starmer as prime minister, called on residents to “vote to change politics”.
Mr Starmer said yesterday he would be prepared to offer the Mayor of Greater Manchester a “big” role in his government if Mr Burnham wins once the count is complete.
However, allies of Mr Burnham said he had little appetite for the offer, arguing that “the benefit Andy has is the wind of change for not having been associated with the government’s failings”.
According to The Times, Mr Burnham and those around him are said to be holding out for a “coronation” — with Mr Starmer stepping aside rather than a leadership contest, which they believe could inflict lasting damage on Labour’s brand.
The prime minister, though, has repeatedly insisted he will not resign and has said he is ready to fight any attempt to remove him.
Andy Burnham greeting supporters at the Labour campaign HQ in Ashton-in-Makerfield
The Guardian reported that several cabinet ministers had to be persuaded by Mr Burnham’s camp not to resign ahead of polling day, amid fears that a wave of departures could plunge the government into chaos before the by-election.
Figures supportive of Mr Burnham inside government had been planning to quit early in a bid to force the prime minister to make way for his challenger, the newspaper said.
The Guardian also reported that Wes Streeting — the former health secretary who resigned to begin a prospective Labour leadership bid — met Mr Burnham while campaigning in Makerfield on Monday.
A source told the newspaper that “no deals were done” following the meeting.
Mr Starmer has said he intends to speak to Mr Burnham “after the weekend”.
Even so, the Prime Minister could quickly come under pressure either to accept a leadership contest or step aside, after Mr Streeting signalled he would be willing to trigger a race.
At his final campaign event yesterday evening, Mr Burnham told supporters that the result in Makerfield would send a message to Westminster and that “change is coming”.
“This is a chance to vote for change, for change in politics, for change in our economy, to vote for people, to make life better for people,” he said, later adding: “It is a vote for Makerfield. It is a vote for hope.”
Reform UK’s Makerfield candidate Rob Kenyon arrived to vote with party leader Nigel Farage
In Makerfield, Mr Burnham’s closest challenger has been Nigel Farage’s Reform UK. Polling has suggested Reform is losing some support to Restore Britain, a party positioned further to the right with a more hard-line stance on migration and other issues.
Reform UK’s Makerfield candidate Rob Kenyon arrived to vote at St Aidan’s Parish Centre in Winstanley this morning with Mr Farage.
Mr Kenyon, a plumber, wore an England football shirt and drove to the polling station in his white van, with Mr Farage in the passenger seat.
Roughly 20 journalists gathered outside to record their arrival in photos and video.
In his closing appeal, Mr Burnham urged voters not to support Mr Kenyon, warning that a Reform victory could usher in a “darker and more divided politics”.
“There is a path that carries on and makes Britain look more and more like the United States of America, and we do not, in my view, want to end up there, where people can’t talk to each other in the street. That’s not the Britain I know, and the Britain that I love, and that’s not the path that we should be taking,” Mr Burnham said.
Makerfield is one of three parliamentary by-elections taking place today.
The other contests are in the Scottish constituencies of Aberdeen South, and Arbroath and Broughty Ferry, after SNP MPs Stephen Gethins and Stephen Flynn stood down following their election to the Scottish Parliament in May.
