A big win for Burnham - we are in for a lively few days and weekspublished at 04:19 BST

04:19 BST

Chris Mason
Political editor, reporting from Makerfield

Image source, Reuters

Andy Burnham couldn’t have hoped for a better result than this.

He’s won and won big time. Granted, this is a seat that has elected Labour MPs for yonks, but just a matter of weeks ago, at the local elections, Reform UK were dominant here.

So he can make an argument that in the tussle of our time in politics — between the incumbent party of government, Labour and the insurgent party Reform UK, he is a proven winner.

That is true here in Greater Manchester, where Burnham has a long track record of electoral success. How true would it be around the country?

This morning though, the focus will be on what the prime minister chooses to say. Expect to see him in front of the cameras before lunchtime.

There will also no doubt be a Burnham victory rally. Expect him to emphasise the local win here, rather than elaborate much further on his wider plans.

And how does the Labour Party respond to his win? Backbenchers, the cabinet? Is there a stepping up in calls for the prime minister to quit? We are in for a lively few days and weeks ahead.

Andrew Kerr
BBC Scotland political correspondent at the Aberdeen South count

Image source, PA

• We're focusing on Andy Burnham's win in Makerfield - but earlier in the night, the SNP held Arbroath and Broughty Ferry, while the Conservatives won in Aberdeen South:

The win in Aberdeen - with a big majority - is a huge boost for the Scottish Conservatives who felt very sorry for themselves after the Holyrood election.

There has been plenty of cheering, hugging and even a little dance from a normally serious-looking party worker.

In his victory speech and "post-match" interviews, the winner Douglas Lumsden highlighted his main campaign message, which has been to fight for the future of the oil and gas industry.

There was no speech from the SNP's Richard Thomson. We grabbed him as he made his way off the stage.

He congratulated Lumsden and said there had been a significant amount of tactical voting, adding the "sheer amount of resources" put in by the Conservatives made it difficult to get the results they wanted.

Asked if the Peter Murrell affair - which the SNP has been battling with - had an effect on dampening party support, Thomson said: "I don't think it made a bit of a difference."

The BBC's election guru John Curtice says Andy Burnham's victory defies national and historic trends.

He points out that Burnham has increased Labour's vote share by nearly 10 percentage points despite parties in power usually losing ground in by-elections.

Curtice also notes that the Conservatives, the Greens and the Liberal Democrats got 3% of the vote between them.

Now he is an MP, Andy Burnham can seek to challenge Keir Starmer as Labour leader.

"I can't do anything unless I'm lucky enough to get the support of people here," he said during a Question Time special before the by-election.

"But if I get your support, I would seek to represent you at the highest possible level and give this constituency maximum power and influence...

"If that [a leadership contest] is running, I would seek to join it, but I would have to persuade members of the Parliamentary Labour Party."

Watch the clip above.

Image source, PA Media

As we reported earlier, Andy Burnham left the count with his family after his acceptance speech.

The PA news agency reports that as he got into a car with his his wife and daughter, he said he was going for a "pint".

Image source, Reuters

Andy Burnham gave an impassioned speech as he addressed his victory in the Makerfield by-election. Here are the key moments:

• A 'turning-point': The former Manchester mayor says the country isn't where it should be - and tonight "could be the turning point"

• Makerfield 'never a stepping stone': Instead, he pledges a "Makerfield test at the heart of British politics will ensure the places Westminster has neglected will now get fairness"
• A 'final chance': Addressing the Labour Party, he warns this is a "final chance to change" and "there will be no second chance"
• 'Unfinished business': Burnham, who held cabinet positions under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, says he always knew he would seek to return to Westminster to "complete that unfinished business" so the north of England could fulfil its "potential"

Makerfield's brand new MP, Andy Burnham, has left the building in Wigan with his daughter and wife.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Burnham says the result "made a loud cry for change". Addressing his own party, he says: "This is a final chance to change."

"There will be no second chance," he says, adding there is an opportunity now to build a "new politics based on unity and hope".

Expressing sadness that his victory brings an end to his tenure as Greater Manchester mayor, Burnham says England's north-south divide cannot be closed "without big change at national level".

"I always knew that one day I would seek to go back to Westminster to complete that unfinished business so that Makerfield and Greater Manchester, and the north of England, can fulfil their potential," he says.

Image source, PA Media

Burnham says that from here on he will give everything he has got to make sure Makerfield "is forever synonymous with bringing about the change this country needs".

He adds that he is proud that the electorate has shone in the world's spotlight over the past five weeks and its people's hospitality has been on show for all to see.

"It will never be a stepping stone to me but instead will be my touch stone. A Makerfield test at the heart of British politics will ensure the places Westminster has neglected will now get fairness," he says.

Image source, PA Media

The newly-elected Makerfield MP, Andy Burnham, begins his speech by thanking those who have worked on the election, and his fellow candidates for a "civil debate".

"Everyone knows that politics isn't working, everyone can feel that the country isn't where it should be," he says.

"Tonight could, just could, be the turning point," he adds.

Andy Burnham has won with 24,927 votes, beating Reform's Robert Kenyon by more than 9,000 votes.

Image source, PA Media

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham wins the Makerfield seat for the Labour Party.

We'll bring you more on the vote share shortly.

The result for the Makerfield by-election is currently being read out.

You can watch or listen to the announcement live at the top of this page by pressing watch live.

Harry Farley
Political correspondent at the Makerfield count

In front of the stage as we wait for the declaration is a huddle of Labour women that have powered this campaign.Lisa Nandy, Louise Haigh, Anneliese Midgley and Sally Jameson have gathered together.“Well done,” Nandy said to Haigh. Not long now.

Andy Burnham and Josh Simons - the Labour MP whose resignation triggered the by-election - have hugged one another as they wait for the result to be announced.

Simons gave up his seat to allow for Burnham to return to Parliament - the first step in any possible leadership challenge.

Andy Burnham has been speaking to fellow candidate, Count Binface, after arriving at the Makerfield by-election count.

The announcement of the result is due any minute now.

Makerfield candidates are being lined up - a signal that a result is expected very soon.

Laura Kuenssberg says Reform UK is signalling through Alex Wilson - who represents the party in the London Assembly - that they are expecting to lose to Labour in Makerfield.

Harry Farley
Political correspondent at the Makerfield count

Cheers erupt on the far side of the hall to where we are. It’s because Andy Burnham has arrived.

It’s a bit of a hero’s welcome. Labour are now very very confident they’ve won this.

In growing signs of Labour's confidence in Makerfield, Laura Kuenssberg has read out a message on air coming via Newsnight's Nick Watt.

According to the "unofficial estimate", Labour sources are looking at a 54% vote for Andy Burnham.