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Burnham Cleared for Makerfield By-Election; Labour Urges EU Return

5/18/2026

26 2 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Andy Burnham has been cleared by Labour’s National Executive Committee to contest the Makerfield by-election, with applications closing Monday and a vote possible by June 18.
Andy Burnham and Wes Streeting are pushing a Labour plan to re-join the EU.
Wes Streeting proposed a new EU special relationship and a re-join plan.
Reform UK will centre its Makerfield campaign on “Brexit betrayal,” expecting a strong challenge in the safe Labour seat.

History

Historical Context

David Cameron fulfilled his 2015 manifesto pledge by holding the EU referendum on 23 June 2016, where the Vote Leave campaign secured 51.9% of votes, a 1.27 million-person majority. The result forced Prime Minister Theresa May to negotiate a withdrawal agreement. Labour leaders now argue the country should reverse Brexit, proposing a special EU relationship and a re-join plan.

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Story summary

Andy Burnham has been cleared by Labour’s National Executive Committee to contest the Makerfield by-election, with applications closing Monday and a vote possible by June 18.
Andy Burnham and Wes Streeting are pushing a Labour plan to re-join the EU.
Wes Streeting proposed a new EU special relationship and a re-join plan.
Reform UK will centre its Makerfield campaign on “Brexit betrayal,” expecting a strong challenge in the safe Labour seat.

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