Labour Leadership Crisis: Burnham’s Landslide Win Challenges Starmer

Andy Burnham's victory in the Makerfield by-election has triggered a wave of resignations calls for Keir Starmer, with over 100 Labour MPs urging him to step down.

Andy Burnham won the Makerfield by-election by a 20-point margin this week in Makerfield propelling calls inside Labour for Keir Starmer to step down as prime minister. Senior figures said Starmer now “operates without authority” as more than 100 Labour MPs urged his resignation.

The result mattered because it reshaped the party’s internal balance, with Burnham emerging as a focal point for MPs seeking a reset. The leadership’s response now hinges on whether Starmer fights a contest or sets a timetable for an orderly transition.

(Last update: 22 June 2026)

Makerfield landslide and public signals around Burnham

Burnham’s campaign closed with visible momentum and high-profile support. Actors Hugh Grant and Steve Coogan appeared at a rally at Stubshaw Cross Club in Ashton-in-Makerfield underscoring Burnham’s broad appeal.

His final message stressed “real change,” with calls to make life more affordable and to reindustrialize the economy. The 20-point win over the closest rival was described by analysts as a game-changer, and it immediately sharpened questions over Starmer’s hold on the party.

The outcome also frustrated Reform UK. Nigel Farage expressed disappointment after Reform finished a surprisingly poor second, a result some interpreted as evidence that the electorate was unconvinced by a hard-right platform. Burnham’s ability to defeat Reform decisively in a region where he is personally popular reinforced his perceived electoral strength among Labour MPs looking for a more compelling standard-bearer.

Mounting pressure on Starmer and MPs’ calculations

Labour peer Charles Falconer stated that Starmer “operates without authority” amid a reported push by over 100 Labour MPs for him to resign. Starmer has insisted he would “not walk away” and signalled readiness to fight any leadership challenge. The impasse mirrored recent UK transitions in which prime ministers resigned due to internal party dynamics rather than a general election defeat, drawing comparisons to the ends of the Boris Johnson and Liz Truss premierships.

Party figures discussed two broad options. One path would see Starmer remove dissenters and reshape his team, a move that might buy time but risk deeper division. Another path would set a clear departure timetable, allowing a controlled succession. Some MPs floated a streamlined process with hustings at Westminster and without a full vote of trade unions and members, potentially installing a new prime minister within one to two weeks if momentum coalesced around a candidate.

Burnham was expected to be sworn in as an MP on Monday afternoon, positioning him for a planned photo-op with Labour MPs depending on Starmer’s next move. Starmer’s team had previously tried to contain Burnham’s rise by offering a cabinet seat, but the Makerfield result strengthened Burnham’s hand with colleagues who see him as viable leadership material.

The spotlight now also turns to the Greater Manchester mayoralty contest scheduled for July 30 seen as a key test of Labour’s ability to project unity while countering Reform UK. Inside Labour, the debate centers on how to balance party democracy with the need for speed, and whether a rapid, Westminster-based process can avoid a summer-long leadership vacuum while preserving legitimacy.