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Poll Shows Labour Edge in Makerfield By-Election, Burnham Reshuffle Planned

6/13/2026

45 6 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

A poll of 543 adults for Forward Democracy shows Labour 46%, Reform UK 41% and Restore Britain 7%, a share that could tip Makerfield by-election on 18 June 2026 to Labour’s Andy Burnham.
Forward Democracy’s tactical-voting site urges non-Labour voters to back Burnham as candidate who can stop Reform UK.
Burnham’s team plans a reshuffle that could add Louise Haigh and Lucy Powell to cabinet while dismissing David Lammy and Jonathan Reynolds.

History

Historical Context

After the 6 May 2010 general election produced the first hung parliament since 1974, David Cameron and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg negotiated a coalition that took office on 12 May and commanded 363 of the 650 seats. That cross-party precedent is cited in the 2026 Makerfield by-election, where Labour’s Andy Burnham faces Reform UK and Forward Democracy urges tactical voting to replicate the 2010 power-sharing model.

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Story summary

A poll of 543 adults for Forward Democracy shows Labour 46%, Reform UK 41% and Restore Britain 7%, a share that could tip Makerfield by-election on 18 June 2026 to Labour’s Andy Burnham.
Forward Democracy’s tactical-voting site urges non-Labour voters to back Burnham as candidate who can stop Reform UK.
Burnham’s team plans a reshuffle that could add Louise Haigh and Lucy Powell to cabinet while dismissing David Lammy and Jonathan Reynolds.

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