Latest Breaking News

StevieM

(10,594 posts) Thu Jun 18, 2026, 10:40 PM 17 hrs ago

Andy Burnham wins Makerfield by-election, paving way for him to challenge Keir Starmer as Labour leader

Source: BBC

Burnham says the result "made a loud cry for change". Addressing his own party, he says: "This is a final chance to change."

"There will be no second chance," he says, adding there is an opportunity now to build a "new politics based on unity and hope".

Expressing sadness that his victory brings an end to his tenure as Greater Manchester mayor, Burnham says England's north-south divide cannot be closed "without big change at national level".

"I always knew that 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," he says.

Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c3928mlyle8t

8 replies

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Highlight:

Andy Burnham wins Makerfield by-election, paving way for him to challenge Keir Starmer as Labour leader (Original Post) StevieM 17 hrs ago OP

With help from a cyberman and a furry DBoon 17 hrs ago #1

His name is Count Binface. StevieM 17 hrs ago #3

This message was self-deleted by its author StevieM 17 hrs ago #4

This is a cyberman. House of Roberts 17 hrs ago #6

so he has not served one day back in the commons and he wants to be PM? msongs 17 hrs ago #2

It is widely expected that he will be the next PM and it will happen relatively quickly. StevieM 17 hrs ago #5

Some strange odds there muriel_volestrangler 1 hr ago #8

Cabinet loyalists tell Starmer he has the weekend to set out timetable for exit muriel_volestrangler 1 hr ago #7

DBoon

(25,244 posts)

1. With help from a cyberman and a furry

Reply to StevieM (Original post)

Thu Jun 18, 2026, 10:45 PM

17 hrs ago

or is that a dalek in the middle?

StevieM

(10,594 posts)

3. His name is Count Binface.

Reply to DBoon (Reply #1)

Thu Jun 18, 2026, 10:52 PM

17 hrs ago

His real name is Jonathan Harvey, and he represents the Count Binface Party.

I believe the guy in the fox suit is Robert Pownall, an independent candidate.

Response to DBoon (Reply #1)

StevieM This message was self-deleted by its author.

House of Roberts

(6,711 posts)

6. This is a cyberman.

Reply to DBoon (Reply #1)

Thu Jun 18, 2026, 11:07 PM

17 hrs ago

and this is a Dalek

What you have looks like a trash can headed what the fuck?

msongs

(74,433 posts)

2. so he has not served one day back in the commons and he wants to be PM?

Reply to StevieM (Original post)

Thu Jun 18, 2026, 10:49 PM

17 hrs ago

StevieM

(10,594 posts)

5. It is widely expected that he will be the next PM and it will happen relatively quickly.

Reply to msongs (Reply #2)

Thu Jun 18, 2026, 10:58 PM

17 hrs ago

Voters in Makerfield understood that they were almost certainly electing the next prime minister if they sent him to Westminster.

Check out the odds of Burnham taking over as leader of the Labour Party, and therefore Prime Minister.

https://www.oddschecker.com/politics/british-politics/next-labour-leader

muriel_volestrangler

(106,781 posts)

8. Some strange odds there

Reply to StevieM (Reply #5)

Fri Jun 19, 2026, 02:37 PM

1 hr ago

I never would have put Alistair Carns as 2nd place - he's only been an MP since 2024, and I reckon most people, like me, had not heard of him until resigned about a week ago because of the defence budget. I've never heard of anyone suggesting Darren Jones; and I'd put Angela Rayner more like number 2 - though it may be that she's told people that she supports Burnham, and I've just missed it.

But the basic "it'll be Burnham" message is universally agreed on.

muriel_volestrangler

(106,781 posts)

7. Cabinet loyalists tell Starmer he has the weekend to set out timetable for exit

Reply to StevieM (Original post)

Fri Jun 19, 2026, 02:32 PM

1 hr ago

Cabinet ministers loyal to Keir Starmer have told him he faces being forced out of office by his party if he does not set a timetable for his departure by the end of the weekend.
...
One MP said they believed there were about 200 Labour MPs prepared, if necessary, to sign Burnham’s nomination papers for a challenge, though his supporters are hoping for a coronation.

Starmer called members of the cabinet on Friday afternoon to set out his determination to fight on. The transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, is said by sources to be among those who expressed concerns in a call on Friday.

At least two ministers, Ed Miliband and Shabana Mahmood, have previously suggested to Starmer that he should set out a timetable for his departure.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/jun/19/keir-starmer-pressure-andy-burnham-wes-streeting-allies-not-fight-leadership-challenge

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