Burnham Poised for Downing Street After Makerfield Victory

Andy Burnham, the former mayor of Greater Manchester, has won the Makerfield by-election and is set to become Labour's leader and Britain's next prime minister, replacing Keir Starmer, with the party able to delay a general election until 2029. A left-leaning reformer focused on infrastructure, housing and regional empowerment, Burnham would carry a broad domestic agenda and commit to NATO and Ukraine, while critics say he lacks recent national-security experience. He has long criticized Donald Trump, a stance that could shape Britain’s relationship with the U.S. as he ascends to Downing Street.