Friday, May 22Friday, May 22Andy Burnham, the Labour mayor of Greater Manchester, has formally launched his campaign for the Makerfield by-election, framing it as a "change by-election" and a referendum on Labour’s direction. In a speech to party MPs and activists, Burnham positioned the contest as an opportunity to signal a shift in national policy, touching on economic reform, housing, transport, and electoral change. He criticized four decades of policies that, in his view, have hollowed out high streets and eroded local jobs in the constituency, arguing that the by-election represents a "clarion call for change" across multiple sectors .
Burnham’s campaign launch was attended by several Labour MPs, including Jonathan Reynolds, Kim Johnson, and Rebecca Long-Bailey, underscoring the party’s focus on the race. While he stopped short of explicitly stating ambitions to replace Keir Starmer, his speech included broad policy proposals—such as reforms to immigration and the economy—widely interpreted as a "thinly veiled pitch for No 10" .
The by-election has also seen turbulence among other parties. The Green Party’s candidate, Chris Kennedy, withdrew just nine hours after being announced, with the party citing "personal and family reasons" but later apologizing for offensive social media posts shared by Kennedy, including content about Jewish ambulance attacks . Meanwhile, Reform UK’s candidate, Robert Kenyon, has faced accusations of making "highly sexualised comments" and spreading Covid conspiracy theories on social media, though the party has stood by him .
Burnham’s campaign emphasizes his local credentials and a break from "business as usual," contrasting his current approach with his 2015 Labour leadership bid, which he later described as "tone-deaf" and inauthentic. His pitch centers on a blend of collectivism and entrepreneurialism, framed as a uniquely Mancunian model that could reshape national politics . The by-election is seen as a high-stakes test for Labour, with Burnham’s potential victory viewed as a stepping stone toward a larger role in Westminster .
> Background: **Burnhams Makerfield by-election bid tests Labour leadership ambitions amid Reform UK challenge.** — *2 days ago*
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theguardian · about 4 hours ago
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financial times · about 5 hours ago
Burnham starts byelection campaign with thinly veiled pitch for No 10 This is a change byelection, says Labour mayor as he launches bid for Makerfield seat and lays out policy viewsUK politics live – latest updatesAndy Burnham has formally launched his campaign for the Makerfield byelection with a barely coded pitch for Downing Street, saying a vote for him to become the MP there was a vote to change Labour.While not explicitly saying that he would seek to replace Keir Starmer, the Greater Manchester mayor used a speech to Labour MPs and activists in the constituency, followed by questions from the media , to lay out a series of national policy views, including on economy, immigration and electoral reform. Continue reading...
theguardian · about 5 hours ago
Game on: All eyes on Makerfield by-election Andy Burnham running for the Makerfield by-election has become far more than a conte…
financial times · about 7 hours ago
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theguardian · about 9 hours ago
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theguardian · about 9 hours ago
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theguardian · about 10 hours ago
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theguardian · about 10 hours ago
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theguardian · about 12 hours ago