Andy Burnham decisively wins Makerfield by-election – POLITICO

LONDON — Andy Burnham cleared a major hurdle in his quest to become Britain’s next prime minister Friday — winning the Makerfield by-election.

Labour’s Burnham comfortably beat his nearest rival, Reform UK’s Robert Kenyon, by more than 9,000 votes in the special contest. It’s a win which will significantly boost his standing among fellow Labour MPs who are already considering ditching Keir Starmer, a prime minister who has struggled to connect with the British public.

Burnham will now have a seat in parliament from which he can directly challenge Starmer by sparking a Labour leadership contest.