Sir Keir Starmer has backed Andy Burnham to win the Makerfield by-election, but added he does not think Labour should have a leadership election. The Prime Minister spoke this morning after announcing a wide-ranging social media ban for under-16s. The by-election in just three days is set to be pivotal for his leadership.
Mr Burnham is widely expected to launch a leadership contest if he wins the Wigan constituency. Over the weekend, two new polls put him ahead of his closest rival, Reform's Robert Kenyon. One survey put Burnham on 46 percent, with a five-point lead over Mr Kenyon on 41 percent. A separate poll published by The Sunday Times showed Mr Burnham on 49 percent with a 12-point lead.
Five leading candidates took part in a hustings hosted by the Manchester Evening News last week. The candidates running are Jake Austin for the Lib Dems; Count Binface for the Count Binface Party; Andy Burnham for Labour; Dan Clarke for the Libertarian Party; Ed Gemmell for the Climate Party; Paul Gould, independent; Robert Kenyon for Reform; Robert Pownall, independent; Rebecca Shepherd for Restore Britain; Sarah Wakefield for the Green Party; and Michael Winstanly for the Conservatives.
Steve Coogan Backs Burnham
Steve Coogan has said he believes 'radical' policies are required to take on the 'populist right' as he lent his support to Andy Burnham's by-election campaign. The Middleton-born comedian endorsed Mr Burnham as he joined him on the doorstep in the constituency. However, he also took a swipe at Labour, the Tories, and the 'neoliberal consensus that has existed for the last 40 years.'
Labour Has 12-Point Lead in New Poll
The results of another Makerfield opinion poll have been published by The Sunday Times tonight, showing Andy Burnham with a 12 percentage point lead over his Reform rival Robert Kenyon. The poll was conducted by Convergent Opinion with 525 people surveyed, with fieldwork conducted between June 2 and June 12.
Kenyon Controversy Dents Reform
A new Opinium poll suggests the Makerfield by-election remains competitive, but the controversy over Reform UK candidate Robert Kenyon's past comments about women is impacting his campaign. The survey of 543 voters puts Labour's Andy Burnham on 46 percent and Kenyon on 41 percent. It found that 73 percent of voters were aware of reports about Kenyon's comments, with nearly half saying it made them less likely to support him. Kenyon also recorded a negative net rating among voters when asked if candidates' behaviour had influenced their vote.
Carol Vorderman Slams Reform Candidate
Carol Vorderman has hit out at Reform's Makerfield by-election candidate after he welcomed an endorsement from former Special Boat Service sniper and SAS: Who Dares Wins presenter Ant Middleton. Speaking to the M.E.N, Vorderman said: "As women, we should not have to accept a culture where disrespectful or misogynistic attitudes are dismissed as 'banter' or brushed aside as irrelevant."
Burnham Vows to Keep Triple Lock
Andy Burnham has pledged to keep the state pension triple lock, saying Labour must stick to its manifesto commitments ahead of Thursday's by-election. In an interview with The i Paper, the Greater Manchester Mayor said tearing up the pledge would be "a very damaging thing to do," warning against moves to rethink the policy despite growing calls from some economists and Labour figures for change.
Lisa Nandy Responds to Burnham vs Starmer Question
Appearing on BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Lisa Nandy was asked whether she would like to see Andy Burnham or Keir Starmer lead Labour in the next general election. She said: "It's well documented I am good friends with Andy Burnham and the things that he is saying in Makerfield next door to my town in Wigan is very similar to what I've been saying over the last seventeen years in elected politics, that people need to be heard louder and clearer but I don't think the public is in the mood for a lot of Labour introspection."
Farage Claims Britain is a 'Two Tier State Against White People'
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has said he would evict all foreign nationals from social housing if the party was in power, claiming Britain is currently a "two tier state against white people." Writing in his first Substack essay, the MP for Clacton repeated his vow to "repeal the Equality Act" under a Reform government.
Burnham Delivers Scathing Remarks on 'Poisonous' Politics
Andy Burnham has warned that the UK is on a path towards the 'poisonous politics of the US' under the current Labour leadership. Speaking at a campaign speech in Wigan, Mr Burnham said: "Does anyone here feel that we can just stay on the path that we're on as a country? Things are getting harder, and politics is getting more polarised, and the path we're on, if we are not careful, is a path towards the politics of the United States of America, a polarised, poisonous politics where people in communities don't work together any more."
