> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://craft-politics.ghost.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# To Vote Against Labour | Vote for Labour
- URL: https://craft-politics.ghost.io/episodes/vote-for-labour-to-vote-against-labour/
- Published: 2026-06-19T17:01:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-05T17:23:12.000Z
- Description: Percy's quick take on Andy Burnham's win in Makerfield and what it means for Keir Starmer
- Author: Joseph Lavoie
- Tags: #episode, #no-guest, #scan, #ai-4, 10 min

I’ve been trying to think of another moment in British politics where you could vote *for* the governing party to get rid of the governing party’s leader. I can’t. But I also hadn’t thought about this angle until Andrew made the point on our first “Quick Take” episode — a format we’ll try when we don’t have time to record a full show.

But back to the story, it’s odd, isn’t it? Andy Burnham secured [54% of the vote and a 9,241 majority](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026%5FMakerfield%5Fby-election?ref=craft-politics.ghost.io)in a seat Reform had topped in every ward back in May’s locals. He ran as an opposition candidate against his own government, and it worked.

As Andrew points out on this week’s show, the thing to watch now isn’t the win — it’s the lesson Labour draws from it. There’s about to be a period of intoxication. MPs will look at Makerfield and decide Burnham is the man who finally beats Reform.

Maybe. But look at the seats where his name wasn’t on the ballot. In [Aberdeen South and Arbroath](https://www.pollcheck.co.uk/by-elections/?ref=craft-politics.ghost.io), the Labour vote fell through the floor, right where the national polls said it would. Makerfield wasn’t a Reform-beating machine. It was a personal brand, a protest vote, and four words: get rid of Starmer.

And none of the things making people angry change if Burnham walks into Number 10\. The boats don’t stop. The anger just gets a new target — him.

00:00 Welcome and quick take format  
00:47 Aberdeen South — Tories snap SNP seat on oil and gas  
01:47 First Tory by-election win in Scotland in 50 years  
02:34 Kemi Badenoch's positioning — not Reform light, not Lib Dem light  
03:36 Arbroath results and Reform's growth in Scotland  
03:59 Makerfield — Andy Burnham returns to Parliament  
05:02 The bizarre referendum — vote Labour to oppose Labour  
05:43 The myth of Andy Burnham and what happens next  
07:03 Coronation or civil war? Labour's leadership crisis begins  
08:23 The intoxication period and Reform reality check