00:02A political figure that many in Britain see as a potential successor to Prime Minister Keir Starmer just got a
00:09lot closer to power.
00:11Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester and a longtime Labour Party heavyweight, won a special election in northwest England
00:19Thursday,
00:20claiming a seat in Parliament with about 55 percent of the vote.
00:23On its face, it's just one parliamentary seat, but the result immediately fuels speculation about Starmer's future.
00:31The Prime Minister has been fighting falling poll numbers, a string of political setbacks, and growing discontent inside his own
00:39party.
00:39Now Burnham, who has never hidden his national ambitions, will have a seat in Westminster and a much bigger platform.
00:46That matters because Labour could replace its leader without holding a general election.
00:51If the party chooses a new leader while maintaining its parliamentary majority, that person could become Prime Minister.
00:58Everyone knows that politics isn't working.
01:03Everyone can feel that the country isn't where it should be.
01:08Tonight could, just could, be the turning point.
01:13Starmer congratulated Burnham after the victory, saying voters backed Labour's message of hope and optimism.
01:20Burnham is expected to take his seat in Parliament as early as next week.
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