About this episode

The episode discusses Andy Burnham's recent by-election victory and its implications for Keir Starmer's leadership of the Labour Party.

Andy Burnham has stormed the Makerfield by-election, clearing the pathway for him to challenge Sir Keir Starmer for the top job in Downing Street. Starmer has vowed to defend his position, but will Burnham’s team be able to cajole him into resignation? Host Lucy Fisher is joined by Financial Times commentators, Inside Politics columnist Stephen Bush, political editor George Parker and Northern England correspondent Jennifer Williams to discuss what could play out in Westminster over the coming weeks, who a Burnham premiership would have as chancellor, and what Reform’s defeat in Makerfield means for Farage.  Follow: Lucy @LOS_Fisher or @ lucyfisher.ft.com ; Jen @JenWilliams_FT or @jenwilliamsft.bskyb.social; Stephen @stephenkb & @stephenkb.bsky.social and George @GeorgeWParker & @georgewparker.bsky.social Want more?   Andy Burnham storms to by-election victory in challenge to Keir Starmer What Andy Burnham now needs to do to become prime minister Andy Burnham’s landslide win should worry Nigel Farage ‘Abysmal’: Nigel Farage’s Reform UK suffers another by-election blow Who is Andy Burnham, Labour’s charismatic chameleon? Can anyone stop Andy Burnham from…

People in this episode

Host: Lucy Fisher

Guests: Stephen Bush, George Parker, Jennifer Williams

Topics covered

• politics
• by-elections
• leadership challenges
• UK government
• Labour Party

Keywords

• Andy Burnham
• Keir Starmer
• by-election
• Labour Party
• Westminster
• politics
• leadership challenge

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Financial Times, Reform UK

Places: Makerfield, Westminster

More episodes of Political Fix

• Andy Burnham’s cabinet: who’s in, who’s out? · July 21, 2026 · 42 min
• The Burnham era begins: Mahmood set for chancellor? · July 17, 2026 · 35 min
• Farage in a fix; Burnham unbeatable · July 10, 2026 · 35 min
• Nigel Farage tries to ‘take back control’ · July 7, 2026 · 17 min
• Power to the North: Burnham’s big idea · July 3, 2026 · 43 min
• Live special: Ten years after Brexit · June 25, 2026 · 57 min

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