Andy Burnham has officially launched his campaign as the Labour candidate in the Makerfield by-election, telling supporters that British politics is “tired” and needs a “new script”. The Greater Manchester mayor said: “This is not business as usual … the people of Makerfield are going to write that script.”
Burnham positioned his candidacy as a vote to change Labour, and backed the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s guidance on single-sex spaces. He supported the government’s direction on immigration but offered broad backing to the home secretary’s planned changes.
The Green party’s candidate, Chris Kennedy, withdrew within hours of being announced, citing personal and family reasons. The Times reported that the party had approached him about social media posts concerning an attack on Jewish ambulances; a Green spokesperson said Kennedy apologised and deleted the posts. The Liberal Democrats selected Stockport councillor Jake Austin, who came sixth in the 2024 Greater Manchester mayoral election against Burnham.
A row erupted over Reform UK’s conduct after leader Nigel Farage’s entourage visited The Hamlet, a Wigan charity for adults with additional needs. Director Gemma Crompton requested a formal apology, describing the unannounced visit as “intimidating and overwhelming”. She alleged filming and photography without permission. Burnham, who was present for a Duke of Edinburgh awards celebration, reportedly told a Daily Mail journalist: “You don’t go into a place like that unannounced.”
Meanwhile, Defence Secretary John Healey wrote to Farage seeking transparency over a £5m gift from a billionaire businessman, asking whether any of the sum could be linked to Russia-connected profits. Separately, the UK borrowed £24.3bn in April 2026, £4.9bn more than the previous year, driven by high inflation and increased debt costs.
