Now he is an MP, Andy Burnham can seek to challenge Keir Starmer as Labour leader.

"I can't do anything unless I'm lucky enough to get the support of people here," he said during a Question Time special before the by-election.

"But if I get your support, I would seek to represent you at the highest possible level and give this constituency maximum power and influence...

"If that [a leadership contest] is running, I would seek to join it, but I would have to persuade members of the Parliamentary Labour Party."

Watch the clip above.

Image source, PA Media

As we reported earlier, Andy Burnham left the count with his family after his acceptance speech.

The PA news agency reports that as he got into a car with his wife and daughter, he said he was going for a "pint".

Image source, Reuters

Andy Burnham gave an impassioned speech as he addressed his victory in the Makerfield by-election. Here are the key moments:

• A 'turning-point': The former Manchester mayor says the country isn't where it should be - and tonight "could be the turning point"

• Makerfield 'never a stepping stone': Instead, he pledges a "Makerfield test at the heart of British politics will ensure the places Westminster has neglected will now get fairness"
• A 'final chance': Addressing the Labour Party, he warns this is a "final chance to change" and "there will be no second chance"
• 'Unfinished business': Burnham, who held cabinet positions under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, says he always knew he would seek to return to Westminster to "complete that unfinished business" so the north of England could fulfil its "potential"

Makerfield's brand new MP, Andy Burnham, has left the building in Wigan with his daughter and wife.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Burnham says the result "made a loud cry for change". Addressing his own party, he says: "This is a final chance to change."

"There will be no second chance," he says, adding there is an opportunity now to build a "new politics based on unity and hope".

Expressing sadness that his victory brings an end to his tenure as Greater Manchester mayor, Burnham says England's north-south divide cannot be closed "without big change at national level".

"I always knew that one day I would seek to go back to Westminster to complete that unfinished business so that Makerfield and Greater Manchester, and the north of England, can fulfil their potential," he says.

Image source, PA Media

Burnham says that from here on he will give everything he has got to make sure Makerfield "is forever synonymous with bringing about the change this country needs".

He adds that he is proud that the electorate has shone in the world's spotlight over the past five weeks and its people's hospitality has been on show for all to see.

"It will never be a stepping stone to me but instead will be my touchstone. A Makerfield test at the heart of British politics will ensure the places Westminster has neglected will now get fairness," he says.

Image source, PA Media

The newly-elected Makerfield MP, Andy Burnham, begins his speech by thanking those who have worked on the election, and his fellow candidates for a "civil debate".

"Everyone knows that politics isn't working, everyone can feel that the country isn't where it should be," he says.

"Tonight could, just could, be the turning point," he adds.

Andy Burnham has won with 24,927 votes, beating Reform's Robert Kenyon by more than 9,000 votes.

Image source, PA Media

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham wins the Makerfield seat for the Labour Party.

We'll bring you more on the vote share shortly.

The result for the Makerfield by-election is currently being read out.

You can watch or listen to the announcement live at the top of this page by pressing watch live.

Harry Farley
Political correspondent at the Makerfield count

In front of the stage as we wait for the declaration is a huddle of Labour women that have powered this campaign.

Lisa Nandy, Louise Haigh, Anneliese Midgley and Sally Jameson have gathered together.

“Well done,” Nandy said to Haigh. Not long now.

Andy Burnham and Josh Simons - the Labour MP whose resignation triggered the by-election - have hugged one another as they wait for the result to be announced.

Simons gave up his seat to allow for Burnham to return to Parliament - the first step in any possible leadership challenge.

Andy Burnham has been speaking to fellow candidate, Count Binface, after arriving at the Makerfield by-election count.

The announcement of the result is due any minute now.

Makerfield candidates are being lined up - a signal that a result is expected very soon.

Laura Kuenssberg says Reform UK is signalling through Alex Wilson - who represents the party in the London Assembly - that they are expecting to lose to Labour in Makerfield.

Harry Farley
Political correspondent at the Makerfield count

Cheers erupt on the far side of the hall to where we are. It’s because Andy Burnham has arrived.

It’s a bit of a hero’s welcome. Labour are now very very confident they’ve won this.

In growing signs of Labour's confidence in Makerfield, Laura Kuenssberg has read out a message on air coming via Newsnight's Nick Watt.

According to the "unofficial estimate", Labour sources are looking at a 54% vote for Andy Burnham.

Haigh saying she's 'quietly confident' is a big cluepublished at 02:15 BST

02:15 BST

Harry Farley
Political correspondent at the Makerfield count

Louise Haigh is the heart of the Andy Burnham campaign. She is close to him and has been integral to the field operation in the towns that make up this constituency over the last few weeks.

So if she is willing to say publicly on TV that she is "quietly confident" at this stage in the night, that tells us Labour think they’ve won.

If they had any doubts Haigh would not be saying that.

It’s not confirmed of course. The votes are still being counted in front of me in the hall. But as things stand here in Wigan, Labour is looking and sounding a lot happier than Reform UK.

Kirsten Campbell
BBC Scotland political correspondent

Douglas Lumsden’s election to Westminster as the MP for Aberdeen South will mean he’ll have to give up the Holyrood seat he won just six weeks ago.

New dual mandate rules prevent him sitting in the House of Commons and the Scottish Parliament at the same time. He must resign as an MSP within 49 days. But another by-election won’t be required.

As a list MSP, his seat will be taken up by the next person on the Conservatives' North East Scotland list, who would be Fraserburgh councillor James Adams - spotted in the front row enthusiastically applauding the Tory victory.

Speaking to BBC News at the count, Adams said he would stand up for the people of north-east Scotland.

"I’ll be a champion for them," he says, adding: "I’m going to stand up for our fishermen, our farmers, and folk in the oil and gas industry."

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

The SNP's new MP for Arbroath and Broughty Ferry, Lara Bird, tells her constituents she is ready to get to work.

She says that the by-election was "about the future we want for Scotland".

Bird adds that once again it has made clear that Scotland's future "lies with independence".

She says that "with every day that passes I become more certain that we will win our nation's independence".