What does Makerfield make of by-election and can Burnham win?

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. What does Makerfield make of by-election and can Burnham win? 25 minutes ago Share Save Add as preferred on GoogleJames Gregory ,Political reporterandRumeana Jahangir , North WestEPAThe residents of Makerfield are about to find themselves at the epicentre of the political universe as a by-election battle that could decide the next prime minister is set to take place on their doorstep. The constituency, which is home to around 76,000 voters in the suburbs of Wigan and nearby former mining towns and villages, has not traditionally been a hotbed of political intrigue.

A safe Labour seat since it was created in 1983, it has recently seen Reform UK sweep the board in local council elections, like many other parts of the country. Reform's rise is one of the factors that has led to pressure on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to resign, with many of his own MPs calling for him to stand down and start a contest for a new Labour leader. The PM is digging in - and steadfastly refusing to give in to demands to set a timetable for his departure.

The Details

Until yesterday, one of the favourites to replace Sir Keir, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, did not have a way to challenge him, as he is not an MP. Which is where Makerfield comes in. The area's current MP, Josh Simons, has announced he is standing down to make way for Burnham.

The stakes could not be higher for the mayor, who has made no secret of his desire to be PM, but will face a stiff challenge from Reform in the upcoming by-election, with Nigel Farage promising that his party will "throw everything" at the contest. Burnham does not have to stand down as mayor to stand in the by-election and will only resign from that position if he wins and becomes an MP again. But losing the contest would seriously diminish his reputation and could make a Labour leadership contest less likely, in the short term.

What next for Starmer? Five scenarios in Labour leadership crisisThe potential challengers to Keir StarmerAndy Burnham: 'King of the North' with eyes on the top jobMakerfield, in the north-west of England, has been a safe Labour seat for decadesBurnham has a long track record as a Labour MP and minister. Before becoming Greater Manchester mayor in 2017, he was elected four times as MP for the Leigh constituency.

What Experts Say

But many voters in Makerfield, irrespective of the parties they support, who have spoken to the believe he will face a difficult challenge this time round. One such voter, nursery worker Penelope Nelson, describes herself and her family as "fans" of Burnham. "He knows what the people want and he stands for that and I think that's great," she said.

She said she would like to think he would win the by-election, but added that she believed "he'll have a fight on his hands". Stan Crook, who is retired, told Radio Manchester: "This has been a Labour stronghold since I've been voting 45 years ago, but I do think he'll really struggle with this one.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.