A look at what Andy Burnham has been up to on his first day as MP for Makerfield

All of that will likely make up Andy Burnham’s first day as the MP for Makerfield.

After weeks of intense campaigning, media crews coming from all around the world and 14 candidates, the "historic” Makerfield by-election finally came to a head as thousands of people headed to the polls on Thursday to cast their votes.

The campaign was touted as a two-horse race between Mr Burnham, who had risked his political future by being the Labour candidate, promising to change Westminster and Reform UK’s Rob Kenyon, who touted his background as a local businessman who cared passionately about issues close to home.

Much speculation had been made about whether fellow right-wing rival Restore Britain could upset Reform’s chances of winning.

However Mr Burnham ended up smashing expectations, increasing Labour’s share of the vote by 10 per cent compared to the 2024 general election and beating Reform by nearly 10,000 votes.

Out on the streets of Ashton, Bryn, Platt Bridge and Hindley, voters are ready for some peace and quiet after an election unlike any they have ever seen.

Reform and Restore voters were disappointed with the outcome, while those supporting Labour said they felt hopeful.

In the lead up to a rally at Ashton Town Football Club’s ground, the atmosphere was ecstatic, with many saying they never expected things to go so well.

Oldham councillor Josh Charters said he “thought it was going to be so much closer”, but “the politics Andy is giving is the politics people want to hear from the Labour Party”.

At the rally to cheers from a large group of supporters, politicians and party members, Mr Burnham, flanked by MPs Lou Haigh and Anneliese Midgley, said: “It is our last chance to change but we’re going to take it, aren’t we? We are going to take that opportunity and we are going to lay out a new path for Britain.”

He said he feared UK politics could have headed towards “darkness and division” where “people don’t talk to each other in the street if they vote different ways”.

He added: “We have an opportunity to turn the tide, to make the country feel like it’s working again, to make people see that politics can make a positive difference, to make people feel hope again.”

The question of what happens next continues to loom over Mr Burnham’s victory, as he turns his sights towards Number 10 Downing Street.

Repeatedly he was asked whether he had spoken to prime minister Keir Starmer following his speech, but those questions went unanswered.

Shortly after, there was a press scramble with Mr Burnham gently jogging to keep ahead of the pack.

One journalist shouted, “come on Andy answer some questions” as the Labour MP quickly worked his way through the clubhouse picnic tables.

However with Sir Keir promising to fight any challenge, the gloves might be about to come off.

Ms Haigh told reporters: “I hope the prime minister takes the weekend to really reflect on the result here, listen to soundings from the cabinet and from the PLP [parliamentary Labour Party], because all the evidence suggests that that contest would be brutal, it would be unpleasant, and it would be very unlikely the prime minister could win at the end of it.”

She said they had a leadership campaign ready to go and the election was a test Mr Burnham had “passed with flying colours”.

She said the matter was in Sir Keir’s hands to set out what happens next.

Ms Haigh said Mr Burnham “will be going to get a bit of kip” as he’s “only had a couple hours sleep like the rest of us”.

After the election count, she said Mr Burnham headed to the Stubshaw Cross Community and Sports Club for a pint and was there “until about 5am so that’s why we’re all ready for a bit of a nap”.

Over the weekend, she said Mr Burnham will be setting up his constituency office and picking up casework from the election campaign.

After that, he will be "getting ready for Monday” as he heads down to Westminster to be sworn in and “hopefully meeting Keir Starmer”.

Asked what his priority is at this point in time, Ms Haigh said: “It’s the people of Makerfield. He said very clearly the Makerfield test will guide everything he does from now on, so nothing he does won’t have the people of Makerfield at its heart.”

Leigh and Atherton MP Jo Platt, a key ally of the former Greater Manchester mayor, said she expected the fellow MP to be “spending some much-needed time with his family” after having been “hard at it for the last few weeks”.

Looking ahead to next week, she said: “There’s no secret with regards to intention. I was one of the many that called for the prime minister’s orderly departure. I think the key thing here as well is we don’t want it to be chaotic in any way, shape or form.

“I’m expecting Andy to be speaking to the prime minister Keir Starmer to see if there is a way forward and I expect that to be orderly. I do hope Starmer will listen.”

Speaking to reporters at an event in north London on June 19, Sir Keir said: “If there is a contest, then yes, I will stand. I have said repeatedly, I am not going to walk away from that.”

In a very short message on social media, Sir Keir congratulated Mr Burnham on his win, adding: “Voters chose Labour’s campaign of hope and optimism over division and hate.”