Starmer rival wins key UK by-election, clears path to oust PM

 Veteran Labour politician Andy Burnham has indicated he will challenge Keir Starmer for party leadership and seek to become prime minister.

Andy Burnham ensured his return to parliament by emphatically winning in the Makerfield constituency in northwest England. (EPA Images pic)

WIGAN:

Veteran UK Labour politician Andy Burnham won a historic by-election on Friday, securing a parliamentary seat and clearing the way for a widely expected leadership challenge against beleaguered Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Burnham, a former government minister who has been Greater Manchester mayor since 2017, ensured his return to parliament by emphatically beating the hard-right Reform UK party’s candidate in the Makerfield constituency in northwest England.

The 56-year-old longtime figure in centre-left Labour has indicated he will challenge Starmer for the Labour leadership and seek to become prime minister, and needed to win the high-stakes vote to be in a position to trigger such a contest. - FMT

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