On the 14 June 2026 episode of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, the host turned his attention to the UK byelections, focusing on the pivotal role of the Makerfield constituency. Located between Manchester and Liverpool in northern England, Makerfield rarely commands global attention, except perhaps for its association with the Wallace and Gromit films set in Wigan.
Labour's Struggles Under Starmer
Since Prime Minister Keir Starmer's 2024 victory ended 14 years of Conservative rule, his tenure has been challenging. Oliver noted, “He’s been in office less than two years, but has failed to kickstart Britain’s sluggish economy.” Starmer also faced backlash for appointing Peter Mandelson as UK ambassador to Washington, given Mandelson’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Donald Trump remarked, “This is not Winston Churchill that we are dealing with.”
After Labour lost over 1,400 seats in local elections in May 2026, Starmer faced calls to resign. Many within the party view Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham as the ideal successor. However, Burnham is not a sitting MP, a requirement to become prime minister. This is where Makerfield becomes crucial. The Labour MP for the constituency resigned to allow Burnham to contest a byelection. “If Burnham wins, he’s already confirmed that he’ll challenge Starmer to become prime minister,” Oliver explained.
The Stakes for Makerfield's Voters
Makerfield’s 76,000 registered voters now hold significant power over the UK’s political future. “The whole thing is fucking bonkers,” Oliver said. Starmer’s unpopularity stems partly from his rightward shift, including classifying Palestine Action as a terrorist organization. Many former Labour supporters have turned to the Green Party.
Meanwhile, Nigel Farage’s Reform UK gained nearly 1,500 seats in local byelections last month. “Bigotry and grievance have propelled the Reform party forward, despite Farage’s significant baggage,” Oliver noted. Farage is under investigation by the UK parliamentary standards commissioner after accepting a £5 million personal gift from a Reform donor.
The Rise of Restore Britain
An even more right-wing party, Restore Britain, is challenging Reform. Elon Musk posted, “Only Restore Britain can save Britain.” Oliver highlighted the alarming nature of Restore’s policies, quoting leader Rupert Lowe’s aim to tackle the “creep of radical Islam” and reimpose “our Christian based rule of law.” Oliver responded, “Oh, fucking spare me Rupert.” He warned that with Reform and Restore pulling politics further right, Britain risks a dark direction, with Labour as the only party capable of stopping the slide.
Burnham gained prominence in 2020 for holding Boris Johnson accountable over COVID-19 policies, earning the nickname “King of the North.” He is currently the UK’s most popular politician. Makerfield has been a safe Labour seat for 120 years, but with 65% of residents voting for Brexit, the outcome is uncertain. Some constituents feel Burnham is using Makerfield as a “stepping stone to get into number 10,” given he does not live there.
Reform’s Candidate and Social Media Controversies
Reform is fielding Robert Kenyon, a Makerfield-born candidate described as “a salt of the earth guy.” However, Oliver pointed out that “his online history is a fucking mess.” Kenyon’s social media posts resurfaced, including one stating, “I’m sexist, sorry but I am.” He also responded with a thumbs-up emoji to a sexually inappropriate comment about TV personality Carol Vorderman. Kenyon has not apologized, defending himself as an ordinary person “rough around the edges.”
Oliver sympathized with Makerfield voters, who have been at the center of a “circus” for the past month. “A Burnham loss would be a huge success for Farage’s Reform party, and a humiliation for Labour so devastating that they may never recover,” he said. “If Labour loses this byelection, and what ultimately comes out of it is prime minister Farage, that is going to be hard to swallow.”
