STORY: Labour mayor Andy Burnham cleared a path to attempt to oust British Prime Minister Keir Starmer after winning a parliamentary seat in northern England on Friday (June 19) in what could be the most consequential local election in more than six decades.

Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor nicknamed the "King of the North," won the contest in Makerfield in northwest England with 24,927 of the votes, while the candidate for Nigel Farage's populist Reform UK party came second with 15,696 votes.

His victory means he will now be able to trigger or take part in a contest to replace Starmer, struggling with some of the worst popularity ratings of any leader. But the key question is when and how Burnham will do it.

In his victory speech, Burnham said the result could be a "turning point" for British politics and told his party that this was a final chance to change direction.

"We must hear it, we must act upon it, and we must get it right," he said. "There will be no second chance."

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

UK Labour's Andy Burnham wins election, clears path to challenge PM Starmer

VIDEO SHOWS: ANNOUNCEMENT OF RESULTS FROM MAKERFIELD BY-ELECTION / VICTORY SPEECH FROM ELECTION WINNER ANDY BURNHAM / SOUNDBITES FROM BURNHAM

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: WIGAN, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (JUNE 19, 2026) (UK POOL - Broadcast: No use UK. Digital: No use UK, except UK newspapers)

1. ACTING RETURNING OFFICER FOR WIGAN COUNCIL ALISON MCKENZIE-FOLAN ANNOUNCING NUMBER OF VOTES RECEIVED FOR LABOUR’S ANDY BURNHAM

2. BURNHAM LISTENING TO ANNOUNCEMENT ON STAGE ALONGSIDE OTHER CANDIDATES / CROWD CHEERING AND CLAPPING / BURNHAM WAVING AND CLAPPING

3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTING RETURNING OFFICER FOR WIGAN COUNCIL, ALISON MCKENZIE-FOLAN, SAYING:

“And I do hereby declare that Andy Burnham is duly elected, thank you.” / CROWD CHEERING AND CLAPPING

4. BURNHAM WAVING AND CLAPPING / BURNHAM SHAKING HANDS WITH OTHER CANDIDATES ON STAGE

5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) WINNER OF MAKERFIELD BY-ELECTION, LABOUR’S ANDY BURNHAM, SAYING:

“Everyone knows that politics isn’t working. Everyone can feel that the country isn’t where it should be. Tonight could, just could, be the turning point.”

6. BURNHAM SPEAKING

7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) WINNER OF MAKERFIELD BY-ELECTION, LABOUR’S ANDY BURNHAM, SAYING:

“I am proud that this place has shone in the world’s spotlight these last five weeks and the warmth, humour and hospitality of its people has been on show for all to see. It will never be a stepping stone to me. But instead will be my touchstone - a Makerfield test at the heart of British politics will ensure the places Westminster has neglected will now get fairness.”

8. CROWD LISTENING AND CLAPPING

9. BURNHAM SPEAKING

10. (SOUNDBITE) (English) WINNER OF MAKERFIELD BY-ELECTION, LABOUR’S ANDY BURNHAM, SAYING:

“I’ve always been clear that it can’t achieve everything it should be, and we can’t close the north-south divide, and we can’t make all the great English cities be what they should be without big change at the 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.”

11. BURNHAM SPEAKING

12. (SOUNDBITE) (English) WINNER OF MAKERFIELD BY-ELECTION, LABOUR’S ANDY BURNHAM, SAYING:

“But I do say to my own party - this is a final chance to change.”

13. BURNHAM SPEAKING

14. (SOUNDBITE) (English) WINNER OF MAKERFIELD BY-ELECTION, LABOUR’S ANDY BURNHAM, SAYING:

“We must act upon it and we must get it right. There will be no second chance. But it is a chance now from this result tonight, to build a new politics based on unity and hope, turning away from the path that takes us to a divided, dark politics of the kind that we see in the United States. We must now take this path and put this country back on the right path and bring people back together and get things working properly again.”

15. CANDIDATES ON STAGE

16. CROWD WATCHING

17. (SOUNDBITE) (English) WINNER OF MAKERFIELD BY-ELECTION, LABOUR’S ANDY BURNHAM, SAYING:

“This result will bring about a country that works fairly for everywhere, and for everybody. People here have voted for change. They have voted for more power for the North and everywhere forgotten by Westminster. They have voted for hope. Now let’s give that back to them.”

18. BURNHAM SPEAKING ON STAGE

19. BURNHAM GREETING PEOPLE IN CROWD

20. BURNHAM ACKNOWLEDGING APPLAUSE / WALKING OFF

21. BURNHAM LEAVING STAGE