In the UK, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham secured a decisive victory for the ruling Labour Party, securing him a seat in parliament and, with it, a path to challenge UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer for his position, reports UNN citing Bloomberg.
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Burnham was elected in a by-election in the constituency of Makerfield in northwest England with a convincing 54.8% of the vote, defeating Robert Kenyon of Nigel Farage's right-wing party "Reform UK", who received 34.5%. Turnout was high for a by-election, at around 59%.
The 56-year-old mayor has made his intentions regarding Starmer's position clear, but first needed to secure a seat in the House of Commons. The scale of the victory, the publication writes, will help Burnham present himself as Labour's best chance to counter the electoral threat posed by Farage, whose party won in Makerfield in local elections just six weeks ago.
The results further pressure Starmer to resign and increase the likelihood that he will face resignations from the cabinet if he continues to fight, as he has previously stated. The prime minister's position was shaken after he led his party to a disastrous result in the May local elections, where the Reform UK party gained ground. Following this, nearly a quarter of over 400 Labour MPs called for Starmer to resign.
"Tonight could, just could, be a turning point," Burnham said after the results were announced to loud applause from his supporters. "I am telling my own party that this is the last chance to change."
"We must hear it, we must act on it, and we must get it right," he said. "There will not be a second chance."
In the short term, the result portends upheaval for the ruling party. Burnham, a minister in the Blair and Brown governments, can now threaten a formal leadership challenge against Starmer, although his camp is likely to first pressure the prime minister to resign without a contest.
In a post on X, Starmer congratulated his rival on his victory. "Voters chose Labour's campaign of hope and optimism over division and hatred," he wrote.
If Starmer does not step aside, there could be resignations from the cabinet. And other Labour MPs, including former Health Secretary Wes Streeting, may attempt to initiate an official challenge to the leader, although it is unclear if anyone other than Burnham can secure the support of 81 lawmakers needed to trigger a contest.
If Starmer resigns or is ousted by a vote of Labour Party members, the UK will get its fifth prime minister in less than four years.