Friday briefing: Andy Burnham wins Makerfield byelection to set up possible leadership bid

In today’s newsletter: The mayor of Manchester is set to return to Westminster after decisively beating Nigel Farage’s Reform Good morning. Andy Burnham is heading back to the Commons after a resounding victory in Makerfield, putting Keir Starmer’s leadership on notice – and giving Reform something to think about. The – now to be former – mayor of Manchester described it as the “most consequential byelection of our lives”, that he promised would not only change the constituency, but the country.