55% vote share for Burnham
Andy Burnham won the Makerfield by-election with 55% of all ballots cast, a commanding majority in a former Reform stronghold.
Snapshot · The Rest Is Politics
545. Burnham Beats Reform: Britain’s Next Prime Minister?
Explore episode
Jun 19, 2026
Where this was said
Intro & Fuse Energy Sponsor Read
At 0:03 · chapter starts 0:00
The episode opens with Alastair Campbell delivering a crisp scene-setter: Labour has won the Makerfield by-election big, with nearly 25,000 votes and 55% of ballots cast for Andy Burnham — but the result reads less like a victory for Keir Starmer than a direct challenge to his leadership. The Aberdeen South story is flagged too, with the Tories beating the SNP in a result that has implications for UK energy policy. The Fuse Energy sponsorship read follows, promising listeners they can switch supplier in three minutes and save up to £200, with the code POLITICS unlocking a free Trip+ subscription.
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