Burnham says 'tonight could be the turning point' in his victory speech

Andy Burnham has won the Makerfield by-election, paving the way for him to challenge Sir Keir Starmer as Labour leader.

“Everyone knows that politics isn’t working,” he says in his acceptance speech.

“Tonight could, just could, be the turning point”. Burnham previously said he would seek to enter any Labour leadership contest, where he would need the support of at least 81 Labour MPs to join the race.

The newly-elected MP for Makerfield, who held cabinet positions under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, says he always knew he would seek to return to Westminster to “complete that unfinished business” so the north of England could fulfil its “potential”.