Keir Starmer Faces Possible Labour Leadership Challenge

6/20/2026

Andy Burnham wins Makerfield by-election, opening a path back to Parliament See how the Labour upset could reshape the race to challenge Keir Starmer

Andy Burnham has won a parliamentary byelection in Makerfield, giving the Greater Manchester mayor a route back into Parliament and putting him in position to challenge UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer for Labour leadership. Burnham won the seat with 55% of the vote, according to the Associated Press. The result is notable because the previous Labour MP resigned to create an opening for Burnham, who has been widely seen as a possible challenger. Starmer congratulated Burnham but said he intends to stay on as prime minister. The article says Starmer’s popularity has weakened since Labour’s 2024 landslide victory, amid concerns about living costs, economic performance, and past controversies in his government.