POLLS have opened in a crucial by-election in Makerfield that could see Andy Burnham return to parliament to challenge Sir Keir Starmer.
is standing for Labour in the constituency and is set for a hard fight against Robert Kenyon.
The former Manchester Mayor is hoping to return to parliament and oust Sir Keir Starmer Credit: PA
Reform UK’s Robert Kenyon is set to give Burnham a hard fight in the constituency Credit: Reuters
Polling stations opened at 7am this morning and will close at 10pm tonight ahead of the all important count.
In a bid to defend his crumbling premiership from a potential leadership challenge if wins the seat yesterday offered the former Manchester Mayor a “big job” in his government if returns as an MP.
But the wannabe Labour leader flat-out rejected the PM’s ploy to keep him on side.
Burnham allies said he was not interested in the offer, insisting “the benefit Andy has is the wind of change for not having been associated with the Government’s failings.”
The by-election could see the PM lose the top job Credit: PA
Polling stations opened at 7am this morning Credit: Reuters
And, yesterday a source in Burnham’s camp projected confidence int eh former mayors ability to win the seat – insisting he was winning over voters in the constituency after weeks of campaigning.
Should Burnham win his spot in the Commons his allies are reported to be hoping for a “coronation” in which Sir Keir stands aside, rather than a leadership contest.
But the has repeatedly made it clear he has no intention of standing down and says that he will fight any challenge to his leadership.
Reports suggest several Cabinet ministers have had to be talked out of resigning early by Burnham’s camp to prevent the Government descending into chaos ahead of todays crunch by-election.
Sir Keir may be forced into stepping down or accepting a leadership race if Burnham, who has been hailed “King in the North”, wins a seat.
The former Manchester Mayor has his supporters in the party and former Health Secretary , who resigned in a sensational political shake up last month has indicated he would be willing to trigger a leadership race.
Burnham could be our next PM with blessing of just 20,000 voters
By
BRITISH politics is rarely simple and often ridiculous, but today’s Makerfield by-election really takes the biscuit.
The is in the hands of the voters in the Greater Manchester constituency, who have been presented with the most bizarre conundrum.
Want to get rid of ? You are probably best voting for the candidate, .
You voted for the PM last time but have grown so fed up that you are now backing ? Careful, a vote for might give Starmer a stay of execution.
You are a right-winger who likes the cut of Rupert Lowe’s jib? Voting Restore might just make way for a hard-left government.
You have to feel for those poor sods in , and not just because a Team Burnham source told me they have knocked on every door in the constituency EIGHT times.
The Ring doorbells are out of battery, the novelty has worn off.
We can only hope these campaign footsoldiers went to the pub during .
By the time you read this, ballots have likely started dropping into boxes, each one potentially having a hugely disproportionate impact on the path the country takes next.
— he is popular in this part of the world — although allies tell me it is “far from comfortable” given the amount of moving parts.
Likewise a close aide to tells me Reform are “definitely still in with a shout” of winning.
Yet, let’s assume the Manchester Mayor clinches the win and returns to as an MP, what happens then?
Burnham will not use a victory speech in Wigan town hall to launch his leadership bid in the small hours of Friday morning.
Nor, according to a close lieutenant, will he make his move even within 72 hours.
But a consensus is building that he will want to strike while the iron’s hot.
Speaking last night Burnham said that “change is coming” to Westminster as a result of the by-election.
He said: “This is a chance to vote for change, for change in , for change in our economy, to vote for people, to make life better for people.
“It is a vote for Makerfield. It is a vote for hope.”
Burnham’s closest competitor, Robert Kenyon, may still steal the seat out from under him.
But polls have suggested the party is losing voters to Restore Britain, a party to its right with a more hard-line approach to migration and other issues.
Makerfield is one of three parliamentary by-elections taking place today.
The other two are in the Scottish seats of Aberdeen South, and Arbroath and Broughty Ferry.
They follow SNP MPs Stephen Gethins and standing down after winning elections to the Scottish in May.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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