Andy Burnham’s resounding byelection victory in Makerfield, which returned him to Westminster after nine years as Greater Manchester mayor, was not solely due to Labour loyalists. Instead, a coalition of voters from the left, centre, and even the right rallied behind him at the ballot box, according to interviews with voters and analysts.
A Landslide Win
Burnham secured a majority of 9,231 votes over Reform UK candidate Robert Kenyon, surpassing the majority of his predecessor. Labour captured 55% of the vote, while Reform UK received 35%, and the hard-right Restore Britain party garnered 7%. Turnout reached 59%, six percentage points higher than the general election, with 45,510 votes cast.
The Liberal Democrats and Green party ran low-key campaigns, allowing Labour to absorb a wide range of voters. Meanwhile, the rightwing vote was split between Reform UK and Restore Britain.
Analysis of the Vote
Veteran pollster Peter Kellner noted that two years ago, Liberal Democrat and Green candidates together won 11% of the Makerfield vote. In this byelection, they secured just 1%, shedding votes to ensure Burnham’s victory over Kenyon.
Voices from the Constituency
At Orrell waterpark, three friends—Mal, 64, Peta, 48, and Barb, 64—said they usually support the Greens but backed Burnham because they believed he had the best chance of defeating what they called the “divisive” politics of the right.
Mal, a former social worker, expressed anger at the immigration-focused campaigns of Reform and Restore in Makerfield, a constituency where 95% of the population is white British. “It’s nothing to do with migrants – they’re the people treating us in hospital. Reform are coming in causing so many problems and that’s why we don’t want that,” he said.
Peta described the byelection as hugely divisive, “between family, neighbours, people you speak to in the street. I don’t know if people realise how far right they’ve fallen.”
Barb hoped the area could reunite after the intense campaign, noting that many Reform and Restore activists came from outside the constituency. “There will need to be work done to bring ordinary, decent people back together again,” she said.
Support from the Right
Some of Burnham’s borrowed supporters came from the right, including past Reform UK voters. Joseph, 50, a heavy goods driver, said he had voted for Reform’s Robert Kenyon in the 2024 general election. “I’m not a Labour fan but I like Burnham and I think this is bigger than just us here. I voted for him this time because at least for the next few years I think he’s the best chance we have,” he said.
Ellen, 63, said any fondness she and her peers had for Nigel Farage had waned over the past year, and she was eager to stop Reform from winning in her constituency. “I don’t trust him [Farage] any more. I think he’s backwards, and the man who they chose to stand here, I think he’s an odd one. I don’t like the stuff he said about women and I get a bad sense from him. I’m not pro-Labour but if he [Burnham] was the other option I was happy to vote for him. I’m happy he won and I’m really happy that it’s over,” she said.
Amber, 37, one of only 308 voters who chose the Green candidate Sarah Wakefield, said she had considered backing Burnham instead. “I live on a very pro-Burnham street, so I’ve been seeing a lot of red recently, I would have been shocked if he’d lost. I was tempted and I’m glad he won because I’d have felt awful if Reform had got in. I know other people who usually vote Green who backed him and I understand it. I think it was something a lot of people who don’t like Labour did,” she said.
