Burnham wins Makerfield

[Whovian]

Andy Burnham has comfortably won in Makerfield and is widely expected to challenge Kier Starmer for leadership of the Labour Party in the coming days. Starmer has indicated he will fight any leadership contest.

The full results:
Andy Burnham (Labour) - 55%
Robert Kenyon (Reform) - 35%
Rebecca Shepherd (Restore) - 7%
Michael Winstanley (Conservative) - 2%
Sarah Wakefield (Green) - 0.7%
Jake Austin (Liberal Democrat) - 0.4%
Others - 0.74%

 

[Mel O'Drama]

I'm quite surprised by the size of the gap between Labour and Reform. This time last night I felt it really could go either way, despite the bookies making Andy Burnham favourite.

Watching from a relative distance has felt a little exciting. It's the first time this situation has happened during my lifetime, I believe. Considering what's at stake, a 58.7% turnout seemed very low... but then I read that the turnout in Makerfield for the last General Election was only 52.5%, which puts it into perspective.

Seeing these results I still find my head spinning at how quickly the political landscape has changed. The Tories are on the way to extinction.

 

[Angela Channing]

Great news. Reform now beaten in the last 5 Parliamentary by-elections Plaid Cymru in Caerphilly, by the Green Party in Gorton and Denton, the SNP in Arbroath and Broughty Ferry, the Tories in Aberdeen South and now Labour in Makerfield and are falling in the opinion polls.

I'm particularly delighted by Makerfield as I think it will lead to the end of the genocide-supporting, factional, dishonest, Reform-aping Keir Starmer. Bring on Prime Minister Andy Burnham, it can't come soon enough.