![\"\"](\"https:\/\/dailybusinessgroup.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Andy-Burnham-at-Makerfield.png\")
Sir Keir Starmer\u2019s days in Downing Street look to be numbered as Andy Burnham comfortably won the Makerfield by-election and is poised to prompt a leadership challenge.<\/p>\n
Declaring it a\u201dfinal chance\u201d for Labour to change Mr Burnham said there would be \u201cno second chance\u201d as the size of his victory was also a setback to Nigel Farage\u2019s Reform UK party.<\/p>\n
Mr Burnham won 55% of the vote \u2013 9,000 more votes than Reform\u2019s Robert Kenyon. Burnham is no longer the Greater Manchester mayor \u2013 an election to replace him is expected to\u00a0take place on 30 July.<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone knows politics is not workiing. Tonight could, just could, be the turning point,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Sir Keir responded by saying voters chose hope and optimism over hate.<\/p>\n
The size of Mr Burnham\u2019s victory came as a surprise to all but was probably as much a vote against Labour as for it, as many were voting for the removal of the Prime Minister and his unpopular policies.<\/p>\n
In Scotland, it was a mixed night for the SNP as the Conservatives won their first by-election in Scotland since 1967. Donald Lumsden secured the Aberdeen South seat as voters expressed their anger over policies towards the oil & gas sector.<\/p>\n
In Arbroath and Broughty Ferry, the SNP\u2019s Lara Bird won with an increased increased majority of 5,278.<\/p>\n
Mr Lumsden won the Aberdeen South seat thanks largely to a tactical vote, according to Tory sources, securing 14,308 votes. <\/p>\n He said: \u201cthe destruction of the North Sea oil and gas industry must stop now.\u201d<\/p>\n The\u00a0SNP vote collapsed\u00a0from 15,213 in the 2024 general election to 8,258.<\/p>\n In Arbroath and Broughty Ferry, Ms Bird held the seat vacated by the SNP\u2019s Stephen Gethins who, like Stephen Flynn, quit Westminster for Holyrood.<\/p>\n Ms Bird \u2013 a lawyer and SNP adviser \u2013 won 9,802 votes, with Reform\u2019s Bill Reid second with 4,841.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was obviously the Tories\u2019 night up in Aberdeen this evening, and obviously that\u2019s a disappointing result for us,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n First Minister John Swinney said: \u201cI am delighted that the SNP has won the Arbroath and Broughty Ferry by-election and that Lara Bird will take her place as the SNP\u2019s newest MP.<\/p>\n \u201cShe has run a fantastic campaign focused entirely on the people\u2019s priorities, in particular the cost of living, and she will be an excellent local champion at Westminster.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is clearly disappointing not to have won in Aberdeen South, and I offer my heartfelt thanks to Richard Thomson and his dedicated team of activists for their efforts.<\/p>\n \u201cBut while we will continue delivering on the people\u2019s priorities, the contrast with the Westminster system could not be clearer.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Labour British government is about to descend into chaos and infighting yet again, in the aftermath of the Makerfield by-election result.<\/p>\n \u201cRather than supporting people with the cost of living crisis, Westminster will once again be focused on itself.\u201d<\/p>\n \t <\/div>\n![\"Donald](\"https:\/\/dailybusinessgroup.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Douglas-Lumsden-celebrating.png\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/dailybusinessgroup.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Lara-Bird.png\")