New MP, new PM? 'King of the North' Andy Burnham eyes UK's top job

Andy Burnham's landslide victory in Makerfield brings one of Labour's most popular and influential figures back to Westminster politics at a critical time.

Significantly outperforming the final opinion polls, Burnham won 55% of the vote, with right-wing rivals Reform UK finishing 20 percentage points behind in second place – far short of what candidate Robert Kenyon had hoped to achieve.

The Mayor of Greater Manchester has spent most of the last decade outside Westminster, building a reputation as one of Britain's most influential regional leaders; and his well-timed return to Parliament comes as scrutiny of Prime Minister Keir Starmer's leadership intensifies.

Third time lucky? 

Burnham has long been regarded as a potential Labour leader, with two previous bids for the party leadership in 2010 and 2015, coming fourth and second respectively. While he never landed the top job, he went on to win three consecutive mayoral elections in Greater Manchester when he left Westminster in 2017.

His national profile rose significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic when he publicly challenged then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson over financial support for areas facing local restrictions, earning him the nickname 'King of the North'.

What role could Burnham play in Westminster?

While Starmer remains Labour leader and Prime Minister, Burnham's return has intensified speculation about his future. Just a few weeks ago, Keir Starmer was fighting internal pressure from his ministers to resign in the wake of the Mandelson appointment scandal. 

The morning after the Makerfield result, Starmer moved to quash suggestions of an imminent leadership contest, saying he would stand and fight any challenge.

Under Labour Party rules, a challenger must secure nominations from 20% of Labour MPs before a contest can take place. Based on Labour's current parliamentary numbers, that would require the backing of 81 MPs.

Burnham moreover has done little to dampen speculation about his own ambitions. During his by-election campaign, he said he would seek to represent the Makerfield constituency "at the highest possible level", saying he would seek to join any future leadership contest during a televised debate programme.

In his victory speech, he said "Everyone knows that politics isn't working… Tonight could, just could, be the turning point."

He then issued what could be considered an ultimatum to his own party: “This is a final chance to change… There will be no second chance.”

The significance of his decisive win clearly extends beyond securing a parliamentary seat. The question is now whether the 'King of the North' will successfully manage to swap his crown for the keys to Number 10.