Andy Burnham is returning to Westminster.
Burnham secured a decisive victory in the Makerfield by-election on Thursday, capturing 55% of the vote and defeating candidates from Nigel Farage’s Reform UK and Rupert Lowe’s Restore Britain.
His return to parliament positions him to potentially challenge Prime Minister Keir Starmer, a prospect he has previously indicated he would pursue in any leadership contest.
In his victory address, Burnham cautioned that Labour now faces a ‘final chance to change,’ and many party MPs regard him as the most promising prospect for effecting that transformation.
Below is an overview of the newly elected MP for Makerfield.
Early life and career
Born in Merseyside, northwest England, Burnham grew up in the village of Culcheth, Cheshire.
He has credited his political awakening to watching the acclaimed 1982 television series Boys From The Blackstuff, which dramatized the lives of five unemployed men in Liverpool under Margaret Thatcher’s government.
Reflecting on the show, Burnham told GQ in 2019, ‘I remember watching every episode with my parents. That was the moment I realized I had to get involved.’
A lifelong Everton supporter, Burnham earned a degree in English from the University of Cambridge before launching a career in journalism, contributing to trade outlets such as Container Management, Passenger Rail Management, and Tank World.
In his early twenties, he transitioned to politics, serving as a researcher for the late Tessa Jowell, MP for Dulwich.
In 2001, Burnham was elected MP for the Greater Manchester constituency of Leigh, a role he held until 2017. During his tenure he served in several senior ministerial posts, notably as Secretary of State for Health and Chief Secretary to the Treasury.
He subsequently assumed the mayoralty of Greater Manchester, where he oversaw extensive regional development. Manchester has evolved into one of the UK’s most fashionable cities, marked by a skyline of new skyscrapers and a vibrant urban atmosphere.
Burnham remained in the mayoral position until Thursday’s vote, acknowledging that his election marked the end of his “wonderful nine years” in office with “some sadness.”
“This city region has given so much to me, and it is a wrench to leave the job I love,” he said.
Critics
Critics contend that Burnham, a veteran Westminster figure, seeks to portray himself as an outsider while adapting his positions to suit prevailing political tides, notably regarding recent Brexit commentary.
With the Brexit debate resurging amid Labour’s internal maneuvering ahead of a possible leadership contest, Burnham’s earlier advocacy for the UK to rejoin the EU has come under renewed scrutiny during the by-election campaign.
Addressing the issue, Burnham acknowledged that Brexit has been costly but argued that now is not the time to reopen the debate.
Instead, he has pledged to champion British businesses and industry, reject trickle‑down economics, and affirm that he will be an MP for all constituents, regardless of how they voted.
“We have an opportunity to turn the tide,” he said. “Our goal is to make the country feel like it’s working again, to demonstrate that politics can deliver positive change, and to restore hope.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer, along with Restore Britain leader Rupert Lowe, congratulated Burnham on his victory, with Starmer stating that voters had chosen Labour’s campaign of hope and optimism over division and hate.
“Andy Burnham won an overwhelming victory,” Lowe added. “It is only appropriate to acknowledge his and his team’s success, particularly the extensive ground campaign in Makerfield yesterday. Fair enough.”