Andy Burnham with supporters on polling day.Andy Burnham is on course to be the next prime minister after winning the Makerfield by-election.
The Greater Manchester mayor comfortably saw off the challenge of Reform UK’s Robert Kenyon to become an MP again after a nine-year absence from Westminster.
It means he has taken a major step towards realising his ambition of replacing Keir Starmer as PM.
Burnham admitted two weeks ago that he is ready to challenge Starmer, whose premiership has been hanging by a thread since Labour were thrashed in the local elections on May 7.
Around 100 Labour MPs publicly called for Starmer to stand down, while several ministers – including health secretary
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