The Independent UK Politics

Ministers turn on Starmer as Labour MPs demand Burnham ‘coronation’ as PM

David Maddox,Athena Stavrou,Millie Cooke and Kate Devlin — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 19:04:37 GMT

As transport secretary Heidi Alexander become the first to tell Keir Starmer to go, he insists he will fight a leadership contest and urges Labour to ‘pull together’ and ‘avoid plunging the country into chaos’

‘His time has come’: Makerfield voters want Burnham to be prime minister – as long as he doesn’t forget them

Dan Haygarth — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 18:18:27 GMT

A statement win in Makerfield has given Andy Burnham a chance to take on Keir Starmer and become prime minister. What do voters now expect from their new MP? Dan Haygarth finds out

In The Room | Makerfield by-election: Has Andy Burnham united the left?

Helen MacNamara and Cleo Watson — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 17:38:43 GMT

It wasn’t so close after all. Andy Burnham achieved 9,241 votes more than the second place Reform candidate, Robert Kenyon. Even talk of Restore Britain stealing votes from Reform mattered little in the end. The reality of the Makerfield by-election is it’s a thumping win for Labour’s Andy Burnham, and a disappointing night for Nigel Farage, whose attempts to dial up division in recent weeks didn’t pay off.

Starmer ‘to weigh up his future as PM this weekend’ after ministers tell him to step down - latest

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 17:37:28 GMT

Ministers tell The Independent they will urge Starmer to quit but PM said he will ‘not walk away’ from No.10

Reform cannot win a general election – and Makerfield has shown us why

David Maddox — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 17:23:58 GMT

Political editor David Maddox explains why the crushing by-election defeat shows that the Reform bubble has burst

What happens now for Starmer? John Rentoul answers readers’ key questions after Burnham’s Makerfield win

John Rentoul — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 15:58:29 GMT

In a reader Q&A, chief political commentator John Rentoul addressed questions on Andy Burnham’s rise, Keir Starmer’s survival and the potential successors, suggesting Labour now faces a managed but uncertain leadership transition rather than an immediate contest

What Andy Burnham as prime minister might mean for your mortgage, taxes and more

Karl Matchett — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 15:37:56 GMT

The Makerfield by-election winner has spoken out on income tax, stamp duty and more – so what might change?

Reform councillor apologises after posing with Jimmy Savile campaign poster

Harriette Boucher — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 15:07:03 GMT

Lilian Rogers said she didn’t ‘comprehend the true, disgusting meaning’ of the sign

Britain could rejoin the EU on special terms, former chief Brexit negotiator says

Kate Devlin — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 12:01:13 GMT

UK would not be forced to join the euro or Schengen, Michel Barnier said, but he would not be drawn on Margaret Thatcher’s budget rebate

Voices: I’ve covered Labour for decades – ask me anything as Andy Burnham wins Makerfield by-election

John Rentoul — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 11:48:49 GMT

With Andy Burnham’s landslide return to frontline politics and Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership under renewed scrutiny, chief political commentator John Rentoul is here to answer your questions and offer insight from Westminster

How Burnham's resounding victory could lead to Starmer's downfall

Pan Pylas — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 11:11:01 GMT

Andy Burnham’s victory in a special U.K. election Friday could lead to the end of Keir Starmer’s premiership

Andy Burnham has said he wants to be the next Labour leader – here’s what that could mean for Britain

Albert Toth — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 11:03:06 GMT

‘Manchesterism’ underpins the veteran politician’s plan for Britain. Here’s what Andy Burnham says he would do as prime minister

Makerfield by-election – in numbers: How Andy Burnham stormed to victory in the decisive contest

Albert Toth — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 10:31:16 GMT

The Manchester politician has bucked a trend of declining support for Labour – and political allies will be taking note

Brexit cost revealed as UK economy took 6% hit, Bank of England data shows

Karl Matchett — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 09:44:52 GMT

The UK economy was growing strongly prior to the vote to leave the EU

What does Andy Burnham’s crushing Makerfield victory mean for Keir Starmer?

David Maddox — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 09:15:45 GMT

Andy Burnham has hailed his landslide victory over Reform UK in the crucial Makerfield by-election as a “turning point” as he insists Labour has a “final chance to change”.

Richard Tice: Andy Burnham has splinters in his backside because he sits on so many fences

Lucy Leeson — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 08:44:14 GMT

Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice hit out at Andy Burnham following his landslide victory in the crucial Makerfield by-election.

‘British politics set for fresh chaos’: How world’s media reacted to Andy Burnham’s by-election win

Namita Singh — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 08:39:48 GMT

Burnham wins Makerfield by-election, placing himself as a challenger to Starmer

Andy Burnham is the 'King of the North' with his eyes on 10 Downing Street

Jill Lawless and Danica Kirka — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 08:25:32 GMT

Andy Burnham is a political insider turned outsider aiming to be Britain’s next prime minister

Who are Andy Burnham’s key allies in Westminster?

Albert Toth and Kate Devlin — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 08:10:58 GMT

The former Labour minister will return to the Commons after his by-election victory in Makerfield

Could Keir Starmer resign and who are the top contenders to replace him as prime minister?

Athena Stavrou and Millie Cooke — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 07:30:32 GMT

Andy Burnham’s dramatic victory in Makerfield has heaped further pressure on Sir Keir’s already strained position in No 10

Andy Burnham’s speech in full after landslide victory in Makerfield by-election

PA Reporters — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 07:26:36 GMT

The former Greater Manchester mayor says this could be the ‘turning point’ for the country

Watch: Andy Burnham calls for political change after Makerfield by-election victory

Mohammad Dawood — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 06:31:39 GMT

Andy Burnham used his victory speech after winning the Makerfield by-election to call for political change and national unity after being declared the constituency’s new MP.

Andy Burnham: The ‘King of the North’ who could be the next prime minister

Nicole Wootton-Cane — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 04:16:52 GMT

The former New Labour minister has previously contested the leadership twice. Nicole Wootton-Cane looks at the life and career of the Greater Manchester mayor, who hopes to be Britain’s next prime minister

Reform MP branded ‘irresponsible’ over claim England must ‘keep winning’ at World Cup to prevent domestic abuse

David Lynch — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 21:46:22 GMT

Sarah Pochin, the Reform MP for Runcorn and Helsby, made the claim in a video posted on social media after England beat Croatia

Buying and selling a home in UK set to become ‘faster, fairer and more secure’ in new house market shake-up

Vicky Shaw — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 21:39:18 GMT

The reforms could also reduce unexpected and costly surprises which can lead to sales collapsing, helping people to keep more money in their pockets