Andy Burnham wins Makerfield: what happens now?

Andy Burnham's victory in Makerfield makes him Labour leader and prime minister in waiting. How will the next days and weeks play out?

Keir Starmer has said he will stand in a leadership contest if one is triggered. So does that mean a bloody contest rather than a coronation?

In a special episode recorded live on Times Radio with Ed Vaizey, we go through the possible scenarios.

And if Andy Burnham does become prime minister, what will he do with power? Who will be in his cabinet? We're told that Shabana Mahmood has turned down the offer of chancellor and will stay as home secretary. Is Ed Miliband still a likely candidate for chancellor? And what to do about Wes Streeting?

We also look at the Conservative win in Aberdeen South. Is this a green shoot for the Conservative Party?

And will the Makerfield result prompt some soul searching in Reform UK?

Ed Vaizey, presenter, Times Radio

Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times

Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times

Producers: Harry Kitson, Erin Carney

Executive producer: Molly Guinness

Picture: Getty Images

00:00 - Intro: "They’re Going to Have to Drag Him Out"

00:20 - Welcome to The State of It: The Makerfield Shockwave

00:56 - An Extraordinary Result: How Andy Burnham Defied Political Gravity

03:00 - "Vote Burnham, Get Starmer Out" Campaign Strategy

04:05 - Keir Starmer Strikes Back: Leadership Contest or Coronation?

06:37 - Starmer's Response: "I'm Not Going to Walk Away"

07:14 - Inside Starmer's Bunker: Refusing an Orderly Transition

09:16 - The Secret List: 80+ MPs Backing Andy Burnham

11:06 - Nigel Farage's Disappointment: Reform UK Share Drops

12:00 - Kemi Badenoch's Tories Resurge in Scotland

13:04 - Did Reform UK Choose the Wrong Candidate?

14:04 - The Identity Schism Deepening Inside Reform UK

16:00 - What Does an Andy Burnham Premiership Actually Stand For?

17:48 - Tax Overhauls: Radical Land Tax vs. Council Tax

18:38 - The NATO Summit and the Defense Investment Plan Dilemma

21:00 - Tough Decisions on Welfare Cuts and Benefits

23:16 - The Power Brokers: Louise Haig & Anneliese Midgley

24:40 - Cabinet Secrets: Ed Miliband vs. Shabana Mahmood

27:12 - Shabana Mahmood’s Hardline Immigration Reforms

28:22 - Wes Streeting's Defiance: Forcing a Platform Battle?

32:38 - What Happens to the Hardcore Starmer Loyalists?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.

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