Burnham's Makerfield speech Change, unity and the north

Jun 19

In his Makerfield by-election victory speech, Andy Burnham thanks election workers and his fellow candidates for a civil debate, while qualifying that not everything around the election was civil. He says politics is failing and the result could be a turning point, pledging to restore hope. He praises the constituency, says it will be his touchstone rather than a stepping stone, and promises fairness for places neglected by Westminster. He says supporters of other parties backed him and pledges to put the place first, solve problems, heal campaign divisions and serve everyone regardless of their vote. Recalling May's local demand for change and what he heard on doorsteps, he warns Labour that this is its final chance to change, with no second chance. He calls for unity and hope and rejects the divided politics he associates with the United States. He says the result ends his nine years as Greater Manchester mayor, expressing sadness but promising continued service to the region. He argues that national change is needed to close the north–south divide and let English cities fulfil their potential, explaining his return to Westminster as unfinished business. He thanks voters for the opportunity and describes their choice as a mandate for change, more power for the north and neglected places, fairness and hope. These are his assessments and pledges; the speech announces no specific legislation or explicit Labour leadership candidacy.

At the Makerfield election count in Wigan on 19 June 2026, Andy Burnham tells Labour that it has a final chance to change and that there will be no second chance. He attributes this warning to voters he met on hundreds of doorsteps, after recalling the borough's demand for change in May. He says the result offers a chance to build politics based on unity and hope, turn away from the divided, dark politics he associates with the United States, bring people together and make the country work properly. This is a public party-reform appeal and political assessment, without a specified reform programme or explicit leadership candidacy.