Andy Burnham returns to parliament amid calls for Keir Starmer to resign

Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, was elected as a Labour Party MP in the Makerfield by-election held on Thursday. He secured 24,927 votes, representing 54.8% of the turnout, which was approximately 59%. Following his victory, British cabinet ministers, including Transport Minister Heidi Alexander, reportedly urged Prime Minister Keir Starmer to set a timeline for his departure. Reports indicate that ministers have told Starmer that his time is up and have requested a smooth leadership transition. This pressure follows internal Labour criticism regarding the government's recent performance. Starmer has repeatedly stated that he will not resign and intends to contest any potential leadership challenge. While some sources suggest over 100 Labour MPs are calling for a transition timeline, Starmer remains publicly committed to his role.