Voters are going to the polls in Makerfield today as Andy Burnham seeks to return to Westminster in what could be one of the most consequential by-elections in British political history.
Mr Burnham, Labour's candidate in the Greater Manchester constituency, is seeking a return to Parliament to oust Sir Keir Starmer and replace him as Prime Minister.
Sir Keir said on Wednesday he was willing to offer the Mayor of Greater Manchester a "big" job in his Government, should Mr Burnham win when the results are announced early on Friday. But allies of Mr Burnham said he was not interested in the offer. Mr Burnham and his allies are reported to be hoping for a "coronation" in which Sir Keir stands aside, rather than a leadership contest, which they believe would be damaging to the Labour Party's brand.
Speaking in his final campaign event on Wednesday evening, Mr Burnham said that "change is coming" to Westminster as a result of the by-election. But Mr Burnham faces a tough challenge to win the seat from Nigel Farage's Reform UK. The party's Robert Kenyon, a plumber and local councillor, was second in the constituency at the 2024 general election. Reform won all seats in the area in recent local elections.
Opinion polls which have been conducted in the constituency so far suggest Burnham leading, but the race is expected to be tight. Polls have suggested he is losing voters to Restore Britain, a party to its right with a more hard-line approach to migration and other issues.
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MORE ABOUT: Andy Burnham, Keir Starmer, Voting, Westminster, Greater Manchester, Parliament, Labour, Nigel Farage, Reform UK, Government, Elections, Polls, Reform.
