LABOUR is defending one of its longest-held northern seats in a crunch poll after Josh Simons quit to clear the way for Andy Burnham.
The is believed to be set to take place on Thursday, June 18, with nominations officially closing later this month.
Andy Burnham has been confirmed as the Labour candidate Credit: AP
Mr Burnham is seeking to return as an MP to challenge the embattled Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer for the .
Almosthave demanded that the PM stands aside following this month’s .
It is shaping up to be a in a seismic contest that could change the UK’s political landscape.
Here are all the candidates who have been announced for the so far.
Andy Burnham (Labour)
, 56, was for the Makerfield by-election on May 19 after the party’s National Executive Committee rubber-stamped his selection.
said no other candidates had been shortlisted for the seat, meaning no local selection vote was needed.
served as MP for the neighbouring Leigh constituency from 2001 to 2017 before becoming the first directly-elected .
The former Health Secretary cannot for the Labour leadership unless he secures a seat in Parliament.
On May 19, Mr Burnham said: “I am proud and humbled to have been selected as Labour’s candidate for Makerfield.
“These proud working-class communities represent the very best values of our country and they deserve so much better.
“It would be my honour to work for them every day, if elected as their MP, to achieve that.”
Robert Kenyon (Reform UK)
Robert Kenyon is standing for Reform UK Credit: x.com/reformparty
, a local plumber and former NHS specialist technician, was confirmed as candidate on the same day that Mr Burnham’s candidacy was announced.
hailed him as the “plucky plumber” and called the by-election a “David versus Goliath battle”.
Mr Kenyon served as an army reservist and was was elected as a councillor for Bryn with Ashton-in-Makerfield North in the local elections on May 7.
He came second to Labour in the 2024 general election in Makerfield.
The candidate says his family name can be traced back to people living in Makerfield for at least the last 200 years.
Rebecca Shepherd (Restore Britain)
Rebecca Shepherd is standing for Restore Britain Credit: Rebecca Shepherd
Rebecca Shepherd, a 53-year-old Wigan businesswoman, was unveiled by as its candidate on Monday, May 18.
It marks the first time the breakaway party has fielded a candidate at a Westminster election.
Restore Britain described her as “understanding first-hand the pressures facing local businesses and working families across the area”.
Ms Shepherd has spent most of her adult life living and working in the Wigan borough, where she runs her own small business.
Party leader said she “would fight for the interests of the community, rather than political careers”.
Her campaign priorities include safer streets for women and girls, halting “reckless overdevelopment” in areas like South Hindley and Winstanley, improving () support, and cracking down on anti-social behaviour.
Howling Laud Hope (Monster Raving Loony Party)
Howling Laud Hope is standing for the Monster Raving Loony Party Credit: Twitter
The 83-year-old former Golden Lion landlord co-founded the Official Monster Raving Loony Party with rock musician Screaming Lord Sutch back in 1982.
He took over as party leader after Sutch’s death in 1999, briefly serving jointly with his pet cat Catmando until the feline died in a road accident three years later.
A former Mayor of Ashburton in Devon, Hope has stood for Parliament more than 30 times without ever winning a seat.
In a statement, the party said: “We can confirm that our glorious leader Alan ‘Howlin’ Laud Hope with selected agents will be standing against Andy Burnham in the forthcoming election in Makerfield.”
It added: “We can also confirm that there is no intention to launch a leadership bid to replace our leader.”
Which other parties will take part in the by-election?
The and have confirmed they intend to stand and the are also expected to contest the seat – but those three parties have not announced their candidates yet.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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