Fact check: Andy Burnham became Labour's newest MP after winning the Makerfield by-election.

Verdict: mixed — Trust Score 65/100

The TikTok post accurately reports that Andy Burnham became Labour's newest MP after winning the Makerfield by-election on June 18, 2026, and that over 90 MPs have called for Keir Starmer to resign, a number that increased after local council elections. However, the claim that Shabana Azmi told Starmer to step aside is false due to misidentification, and the statement about Keir Starmer having a fully costed plan to freeze energy bills this winter is misleading, as his 2026 plan focuses on long-term reductions and a smaller cut, not a full freeze. Reports on June 20-21, 2026, did suggest Starmer was expected to resign by June 22, 2026, aligning with the '72 hours to go' narrative.

Platform
tiktok
Source author
gbnews — see all fact-checks of this account
Original post
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNR3wbA7Q/
Verified on
June 21, 2026
Verification ID
9SHzNug1nm0sdfJt2LlFFQ

Original content reviewed

Platform: TIKTOK Author: @gbnews --- Caption/Description --- Patrick Christys questions if Andy Burnham is just Keir Starmer "in a polo shirt". The former Mayor of Greater Manchester became Labour's newest MP after victory in the Makerfield by-election. But speaking on GB News, host Patrick compared the similarities between Burnham and the Prime Minister. #AndyBurnham #KeirStarmer #Labour #PatrickChristys #GBNews --- Audio Transcript (What was said) --- So reports are suggesting this evening that Sir Keir Starmer has been given 72 hours to go. It's over for the worst prime minister in British history. Burnham one. Now, Starmer's apparently desperately ringing round cabinet ministers to see if they'll back him. And we've actually got a clip of one of those cabinet ministers responding to Starmer's please for support, I don't care who you are, you can shove it up your butt. Well, it's not going well for the lad. And. And Starmer couldn't. Couldn't even get new Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis on side. And I wouldn't be surprised if he turns up at his house begging him for support. Done, done, done. Yeah, here we go. The brilliant Steve Coogan. There is Alan Partridge doing his best Keir Starmer impression. Supposedly, Shabana Azmi and Ed Milliband have told Starmer to step aside. 90 MPs already called for him to go. After the local council elections, that number has since risen and all Starmer can do is say this. If there is a contest, just to be clear with you, then, yes, I will run, I will stand, and I've said repeatedly, I'm not gonna walk away from that. It's a shame. You could run anyway. But. But is Andy Burnham any different to Keir Starmer? Is he just exactly the same, but with more chips and gravy? Is Burnham just Keir Starmer in a polo shirt or a retro Everton football top? Let's have a little look. Shall we? Here's what Andy Burnham said today. We need an economy that works for everybody, not a few in far off places from here. And here's Keir Starmer with

Claims analyzed (6)

  1. verified: Andy Burnham became Labour's newest MP after winning the Makerfield by-election.
    Multiple news outlets and official sources confirm that Andy Burnham won the Makerfield by-election on June 18, 2026, and subsequently became the Member of Parliament for Makerfield. He resigned his position as Mayor of Greater Manchester to take up the parliamentary seat. [cite: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 1_1, 1_2, 1_3, 1_4, 1_5]
  2. verified: Reports suggest Sir Keir Starmer has been given 72 hours to resign.
    Several news reports from June 20-21, 2026, indicate that the Observer newspaper reported Keir Starmer was expected to resign on Monday, June 22, 2026, and outline a timetable for his departure. This aligns with the '72 hours to go' mentioned in the post's audio. [cite: 2_2, 2_3, 2_4, 2_5, 3_1, 3_2, 3_3, 3_4, 3_5] Some sources also mention Andy Burnham's allies suggesting he would give Starmer 'space' for at least 72 hours after his by-election victory to make a decision. [cite: 2_4]
  3. false: Shabana Azmi and Ed Miliband have reportedly told Keir Starmer to step aside.
    Search results indicate that Shabana Mahmood, the Home Secretary, was among cabinet ministers reportedly urging Starmer to consider his position, not Shabana Azmi, who is an Indian actress and not a UK politician. [cite: 4_2, 4_4] While Ed Miliband is a prominent Labour figure and Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, there is no evidence from the search results to suggest he specifically told Keir Starmer to step aside in the context of the June 2026 leadership crisis. [cite: 6_3
  4. verified: Over 90 MPs have called for Keir Starmer to resign, a number that has increased since local council elections.
    Multiple sources confirm that a significant number of Labour MPs, exceeding 90, have called for Keir Starmer to resign. This pressure intensified following poor results in local council elections. LabourList reported 'close to 100 Labour MPs' by May 15, 2026. [cite: 5_1, 5_2] TIME reported 'at least 78 Labour MPs' by May 11, 2026. [cite: 2_1] Sky News reported 'Around a hundred parliamentarians' on June 20, 2026. [cite: 4_1] The Wikipedia article on the 2026 Labour Party leadership crisis states
  5. mostly true: Andy Burnham stated that bus fares in Greater Manchester have been reduced.
    Andy Burnham announced in December 2025 that all Bee Network bus fares, including the £2 fare cap, would be frozen for 2026. [cite: 7_2, 7_3, 7_4, 7_5, 7_6, 8_2, 8_3, 8_4, 8_5, 8_6] Additionally, older and disabled passholders would receive unlimited free travel on Bee Network buses from March 2026 by removing the 9:30 am restriction. [cite: 7_3, 7_4, 7_5, 7_6, 8_2, 8_3, 8_4, 8_5, 8_6] While the general term 'reduced' might be an oversimplification, the freeze maintains low fares and the free tr
  6. misleading: Keir Starmer stated the Labour Party has a fully costed plan to freeze energy bills this winter.
    While Labour, under Keir Starmer, did propose a £29 billion plan to freeze energy bills over winter in August 2022, [cite: 9_1, 9_2] the more recent plan unveiled in January 2026 is the £15 billion Warm Homes Plan. This plan focuses on long-term energy cost reductions through home improvements (insulation, solar panels, heat pumps) and aims to take an average of £150 off energy bills from April, rather than a full freeze of bills for winter 2026. [cite: 9_3, 9_5] The Conservative Party also clai

Sources consulted (21)

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