Andy Burnham officially launched his campaign as the Labour candidate in the Makerfield by-election, telling supporters: “British politics is tired. It needs a new script.” The Greater Manchester mayor said a vote for him was “a vote to change Labour”.
Burnham backed the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s guidance on single-sex spaces, calling for a more “live and let live” approach. He also broadly supported the Home Secretary’s planned changes to the immigration system, saying the government was “moving in the right direction”.
The Green Party candidate for the by-election, Chris Kennedy, withdrew within hours of being announced, citing “personal and family reasons”. The Times reported it had approached him about social media posts he shared concerning an attack on Jewish ambulances in north London. The Liberal Democrats selected Stockport councillor Jake Austin as their candidate.
A row erupted over Reform UK’s conduct in the campaign. Gemma Crompton, director of The Hamlet, a Wigan charity for adults with additional needs, asked Nigel Farage to apologise after his entourage entered the premises unannounced, which staff and service users found “intimidating and overwhelming”. Burnham, who was present for a Duke of Edinburgh awards celebration, was accused of a “spiky” response to a Daily Mail journalist. Crompton stressed the visit was not intended as a political event.
Meanwhile, Defence Secretary John Healey urged Nigel Farage to provide transparency over a £5m gift from a billionaire businessman, asking whether any of the sum could be linked to Russia-connected profits. The UK borrowed £24.3bn in April 2026, £4.9bn more than expected, driven by high inflation and rising debt costs.
