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

By Reuters Reuters
Greater Manchester mayor and Labour candidate Andy Burnham meets with supporters during the Makerfield by-election, triggered by the resignation of Labour MP John Simons, in Wigan, Britain, June 18, 2026. REUTERS/Temilade Adelaja
Greater Manchester mayor and Labour candidate Andy Burnham meets with supporters during the Makerfield by-election, triggered by the resignation of Labour MP John Simons, in Wigan, Britain, June 18, 2026. REUTERS/Temilade Adelaja Temilade Adelaja Reuters

WIGAN, England - Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham will return to Britain's parliament after winning an election in the north of England on Friday, removing a key obstacle to a leadership challenge against Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Burnham, who is widely seen as the most likely contender to succeed Starmer as Labour leader, won the Makerfield seat. The candidate for Nigel Farage's anti-immigration Reform UK party came second.

(Reporting by Andy Bruce. Editing by Andrew MacAskill)

Greater Manchester mayor and Labour candidate Andy Burnham attends the vote counting for the Makerfield by-election, triggered by the resignation of Labour MP John Simons, in Wigan, Britain, June 19, 2026. REUTERS/Temilade Adelaja
Greater Manchester mayor and Labour candidate Andy Burnham attends the vote counting for the Makerfield by-election, triggered by the resignation of Labour MP John Simons, in Wigan, Britain, June 19, 2026. REUTERS/Temilade Adelaja Temilade Adelaja Reuters

Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect.

This story was originally published June 18, 2026 at 10:18 PM.

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