Labour's Andy Burnham wins a special election, setting up a showdown with Starmer

LONDON (AP) — Labour’s Andy Burnham, the popular Greater Manchester mayor, has won a special election for a seat in Parliament that puts him in a position to challenge embattled Prime Minister Keir Starmer for the leadership.

Burnham won the contest in Makerfield, northwest England, over Rob Kenyon of the anti-immigration party Reform UK.

The victory cements the status of Burnham, who enjoys popularity both within his party and among voters, as the leading contender to replace Starmer as leader of Labour and the country.