Barnsley test: can Burnham steer voters back to Labour?
After Labour's historic defeat in Barnsley's May local elections, new PM Andy Burnham is hoping to win back voters. A byelection in the town will test whether the party has turned a corner.
Barnsley's May local elections delivered a seismic shock: Reform UK won 42 seats, leaving Labour with just 11 councillors — its worst result in over 50 years in a town it had governed since 1974. The defeat helped trigger Keir Starmer's resignation, and Andy Burnham, former Greater Manchester mayor, succeeded him as prime minister.
Now, 100 days on, the political landscape has shifted. A YouGov poll on Monday put Labour ahead of Reform for the first time since March 2025 — 24% to 22%. Reform leader Nigel Farage remains under a parliamentary standards investigation over financial gifts; he won a protest-triggered byelection in Clacton last Thursday, but the probe has resumed.
Voter signals
Some Barnsley voters who punished Labour in May are drifting back. Richard Riding, 71, a retired HGV driver, said he voted Reform 'just for a change' but dislikes Farage and praised Burnham's record in Manchester; he plans to vote Labour next time. Others remain unconvinced: Martin Harvey, 75, an ex-engineer, switched over immigration concerns and will stay with Reform. Jessica Morgan, 31, a retail worker, said she is 'still happy' with her vote, wanting roads fixed.
The Labour-run council had been innovative — winning awards and introducing schemes like hospital services in the town centre, free bus travel for under-18s, and free school uniforms that saved families about £2.5m a year. Reform has scaled back the uniform scheme.
Test case
A byelection in Penistone East, caused by a Reform councillor's resignation, is seen as an early gauge. Labour won two of three seats in May but lost the third; the party says it is confident of victory on Thursday. Labour has canvassed more than 1,000 voters there.
James Higginbottom, Labour group leader, said voters are 'willing to give us a fair hearing'. MP Marie Tidball said Burnham's authentic Labour appeal has 'cut through'. Dan Jarvis said Reform 'did well when people could only judge their promises' but now their actions are judged. Stephanie Peacock reported that residents are 'more open' to Labour, citing one former pro-Reform woman who now plans to vote Labour.
