Andy Burnham has won the highly-anticipated Makerfield by-election in Wigan, Greater Manchester, continuing the Labour Party’s representation of the constituency in Parliament. The former Greater Manchester Mayor won 55% of the vote, equating to 24,927 votes.
The Greater Manchester constituency was left needing a new representative after Labour MP Josh Simons stood down in May.
Breakdown of the vote share in the Makerfield by-election
- Andy Burnham (Labour and Co-operative): 24,927 votes
- Rob Kenyon (Reform UK): 15,696 votes
- Rebecca Shepherd (Restore Britain): 3,111 votes
- Michael Winstanley (Conservative): 997 votes
- Sarah Wakefield (Green): 308 votes
- Jake Austin (Lib Dem): 163 votes
Electorate: 77462
Turnout: 59%
Andy Burnham’s speech
On his win, Andy Burnham said the following:
“Everyone knows that politics isn’t working. Everyone can feel that the country isn’t where it should be. Tonight could, just could, be the turning point. From here on I will give everything I have got to make it so, to ensure the name Makerfield is forever synonymous with bringing about the change this country needs, bringing back something we’ve lost; hope. Hope for the future.
“I am proud that this place has shone in the world’s spotlight these last five weeks, and the warmth, humour and hospitality of its people has been on show for all to see.
“It’ll never be a stepping stone for me, but instead will be my touchstone, a Makerfield test at the heart of British politics will ensure the places Westminster has neglected will now get fairness.
“I spoke in the campaign about the need to change politics. I promised to lead by example from the front as your Member of Parliament.
“I know people who traditionally vote for the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats, the Greens and perhaps more recently in May for Reform UK, have given me their support in this election. I will always have respect to them for that and out of respect for them, I will always take a place first, rather than a party first approach, and I will focus on problem solving rather and point scoring.
“And I will work hard after this by-election to heal the divisions of this campaign and let it be really understood that I will be your MP however you voted. When this borough went to the polls in May, it made a loud cry for change. In this campaign, we have begun to answer that.
“But I do say to my own party, this is a final chance to change. This is what people said directly to me on the hundred of doorsteps that I stood on. We must hear it. We must act upon it. And we must get it right. There will be no second chance. But it is a chance now, from this result tonight to build a new politics based on unity and hope.”
“It is with some sadness that this result brings an end to my wonderful nine years as Mayor of Greater Manchester. This city region has given so much to me and it is a wrench to leave the job I love, but I am not leaving the service of Greater Manchester.
“I have always been clear that it can’t achieve everything it should be and we can’t close the north south divide, and we can’t make all the great English cities be what they should be without big change at the national level.
“I always knew one day I would seek to go back to Westminster, to complete that unfinished business, so that Makerfield, and Greater Manchester, and the North of England can fulfil their potential. And I will be forever grateful to the people here, the people of the wonderful places that make up this constituency, the proud places that always have deserved so much more.
“I will be forever grateful to them that they have given me the chance to go back and make this country work for Makerfield and the many places like it across the country who have been neglected, who feel that the country works for other people in other places, but not them. And that changes tonight. This result changes that.
“This result will bring about a country that works fairly for everywhere and for everybody.”
What does this mean for UK politics?
Well, it means a lot of things. With Andy Burnham winning by such a large margin (9,000 votes), he is in a prime position to be favourite in any Labour leadership contest. No leadership contest has yet been triggered, but political experts say it’s more a matter of ‘when’ than ‘if’.
Given that margin, Reform UK’s Rob Kenyon expected to do much better in this by-election, and party leader Nigel Farage has called it a “disappointing morning”. This could spell a damaging immediate future for the Reform party in Parliament.
The Green Party’s 0.7% of the vote also speaks to the party’s future in Parliament, given how high the party was flying after winning the Gorton and Denton by-election, and the projected 2% voting intention. Having said this, the voting history of Makerfield points heavily to both Reform UK and Labour, so this should perhaps be taken with a pinch of salt.
