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Burnham Leads Farage by 14 Points in Makerfield By-Election

5/19/2026

48 10 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Andy Burnham, selected as Labour’s candidate for the Makerfield by-election on 18 June, leads Farage by 14 points in polls.
A surge in Reform UK support and the constituency’s 2016 Leave vote make Makerfield a target for Farage’s party.
The Green Party’s strong local performance could split the progressive vote, complicating Burnham’s chances.
The by-election could cost taxpayers up to £226,000, while a mayoral by-election could run into millions.

History

Historical Context

On 1 May 1997 the Labour Party under Tony Blair won 418 seats, giving a 179-seat majority and ending 18 years of John Major’s Conservative government. The landslide introduced New Labour’s centrist platform and reshaped British politics in the United Kingdom's electoral landscape. Today, by-elections challenge Labour’s dominance, echoing the shift that began in 1997.

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Story summary

Andy Burnham, selected as Labour’s candidate for the Makerfield by-election on 18 June, leads Farage by 14 points in polls.
A surge in Reform UK support and the constituency’s 2016 Leave vote make Makerfield a target for Farage’s party.
The Green Party’s strong local performance could split the progressive vote, complicating Burnham’s chances.
The by-election could cost taxpayers up to £226,000, while a mayoral by-election could run into millions.

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