Friday briefing: Andy Burnham wins Makerfield byelection to set up possible leadership bid (opens original article in a new tab)

Andy Burnham secured a decisive victory in the Makerfield byelection, positioning himself as a potential challenger to Keir Starmer's leadership within Labour, while Reform UK faced losses against both Labour and the new hard-right party Restore Britain.

• Andy Burnham won the Makerfield byelection with 55% of the vote, defeating Reform UK's Robert Kenyon and Restore Britain's Rebecca Shepherd.
• Burnham's victory is seen as a potential turning point for Labour, with speculation about a leadership challenge against Keir Starmer.
• Reform UK faced setbacks, losing to Labour and facing competition from the new hard-right party Restore Britain.