‘I’m not a Labour fan but I like Burnham’: relief in Makerfield among left, right and centre

‘Borrowed’ supporters from across the political spectrum voted to trounce Reform

UK politics – live updates

How quickly could Burnham become PM?

The morning after Andy Burnham secured a landslide byelection victory in Makerfield, returning him to Westminster after nine years as Manchester mayor, it is hard to avoid the large, red placards bearing his face.

But Burnham’s win was not just thanks to Labour loyalists. Instead, it appears that a coalition of voters from the left, centre and even the right united to back him at the ballot box.