The polls are now closed and voting has concluded for the Makerfield by-election held in Wigan on Thursday, June 18. This highly anticipated contest saw Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham running as the Labour Party candidate, marking the first step in his plan to launch a leadership bid.
Background of the By-Election
The election follows the sudden resignation of Labour MP Josh Simons on May 14, who stepped down to pave the way for Burnham to stand for election. Simons' resignation came amid mounting demands for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to resign, with Burnham expected to challenge Starmer for leadership if elected. The outcome of this by-election could therefore shape the UK political landscape for years to come.
Voter Turnout and Candidates
Approximately 70,000 residents in the Wigan constituency had the opportunity to vote on Thursday and choose their new Member of Parliament for Makerfield. The contest was largely a close race between Burnham and Reform candidate Rob Kenyon, who faced backlash during the campaign over old social media posts.
In addition to Kenyon and Burnham, 12 other candidates stood for election: Jake Austin (Liberal Democrats), Count Binface (Count Binface Party), Dan Clarke (Libertarian Party), John Dyer (Independent), Ed Gemmell (Climate Party), Paul Gould (Independent), Howling Laud Hope (The Official Monster Raving Loony Party), Rob Pownall (Independent), Rebecca Shepherd (Restore Britain), Sarah Wakefield (Green Party), Peter Ward (Rejoin EU), and Michael Winstanley (Conservative and Unionist Party).
Counting and Results
Counting is expected to begin shortly after polls closed at 10pm on Thursday, with results anticipated in the early hours of Friday morning. Live coverage of the Makerfield by-election will provide updates throughout the evening and into the night as counting progresses.
Polls and Predictions
Unlike general elections, no exit poll was conducted for this by-election. However, an Opinium poll carried out between June 3 and 11, 2026, surveyed 543 local residents on their voting intentions. The results showed: Labour (Andy Burnham) 46%, Reform (Rob Kenyon) 41%, Restore (Rebecca Shepherd) 7%, Conservative (Michael Winstanley) 3%, Green (Sarah Wakefield) 2%, Liberal Democrats (Jake Austin) 1%, and Other 1%.
As of 9:30pm on Thursday, bookmakers heavily favoured Burnham. Odds included William Hill: Labour 1/12, Reform 6/1, Restore 16/1; BetFred: Labour 1/9, Reform 8/1, Restore 25/1; Ladbrokes: Labour 1/10, Reform 7/1, Restore 33/1.
