'Writing on the wall' for Starmer after Burnham by-election win, Welsh MP says

Andy Burnham's decisive victory in the Makerfield by-election means "the writing is on the wall" for Sir Keir Starmer's premiership, a Welsh Labour MP has said.

The Labour Mayor of Greater Manchester won 55% of the vote, more than all his rivals combined, clearing the path for him to challenge the prime minister.

Starmer warned a contest would send "the country into chaos", but has vowed to stand if there is one.

However Newport West and Islwyn MP Ruth Jones told BBC Radio Wales "somebody needs to tell Keir that the writing is on the wall" and that he should step aside.

After holding off a challenge from Reform, which came second with 35% of the votes, Burnham said in his victory speech that Labour now has a "final chance to change", and his win could mark a "turning point" for the UK.

In a second speech, later on Friday morning, he promised to set out a "new path for Britain" and to "make life affordable" again.

Starmer, who congratulated him in a post on X earlier in the morning, told reporters that "if there is a contest, then yes I will run, I will stand, and I've said repeatedly I'm not going to walk away from that".

Later a spokesman said the prime minister was "getting on with the business of delivering his government's agenda - the agenda that stabilised the economy, that's invested in public services and brought down waiting lists".

Jones, chair of the Welsh Affairs Committee at Westminster, told Radio Wales Breakfast that she was "really pleased that the people of Makerfield, when we knocked on doors, were telling us 'Andy, yes, he can be the one to change things, we will vote for him'."

Asked if she would like to see Burnham become Labour leader as soon as possible, Jones said: "Obviously I want things to be done in a smooth and orderly way, I want to see a transition.

"That means Keir Starmer stepping aside to let, if there is an election to happen, to get on with it.

"But I think somebody needs to tell Keir that the writing is on the wall there."

Interim Welsh Labour leader Ken Skates, who was also one of the many Labour politicians who campaigned for Burnham in Makerfield, called the result "excellent".

"It was great to have joined so many members on the doors to hear the message of hope and optimism over the past couple of weeks," he said.

Former Welsh Labour leader and first minister Carwyn Jones, appearing on BBC Radio Cymru's Dros Frecwast, said he "doesn't see how Keir Starmer can win at this moment in time" in any battle with Burnham lead the party.

Asked directly if he believed Burnham will replace Starmer, Carwyn Jones said: "I think that is very possible.

"At the moment, he has the momentum and if he wants to challenge Keir Starmer, many will support him.

"The fact that he has been so successful as the Mayor of [Greater] Manchester, he is a very popular figure and winning this by-election by such a majority.

"For me, things have to change regarding the Labour government in Westminster."

Reform leader Nigel Farage said he was disappointed by his party's performance in Makerfield.

He said many people had backed Burnham to "get Starmer out" - but that Reform was still "the big national party on the centre-right".

"A disappointing morning, but we keep going," he added.

His words were echoed by Jason O'Connell, Reform Senedd member for Pontypridd Cynon Merthyr.

He called the verdict of the electors of Makerfield "very much, I think, not a vindication of the Labour Party itself, but, more of a damning indictment of Keir Starmer's leadership and a, hunger to get him out using Andy Burnham as a vehicle to do that".