Andy Burnham's election to parliament sets up bid to oust UK PM Starmer

Labour mayor Andy Burnham cleared a path to ousting Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday after winning a parliamentary seat in northern England, a victory that ​could usher in a new bout of political instability in Britain.

Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor nicknamed the "King of the North", won the contest in Makerfield in northwest ‌England with 54.8% of the vote, while the candidate for Nigel Farage's populist Reform UK party came second with 34.5%.

His victory in what could be most consequential local election in more than six decades 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 British 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."

Starmer, who has said he will ⁠fight on, was quick to congratulate Burnham, saying on X: "Voters chose Labour's campaign of hope and optimism over division and hate."