Posted on 06/18/2026 5:49:41 AM PDT by MinorityRepublican
POLLS have opened in the crucial Makerfield by-election that could see Andy Burnham return to parliament to challenge Sir Keir Starmer.
Andy Burnham is standing for Labour in the constituency and is set for a hard fight against Reform UK‘s Robert Kenyon.
Polling stations opened at 7am this morning and will close at 10pm tonight ahead of the all important count.
A Burnham win followed by a victory in a subsequent leadership challenge could see the Labour government lurch to the left with Burnham in the top job.
Makerfield MP Josh Simons stood aside after Labour’s crushing results in the local elections – paving the way for Burnham to contest the seat and return to Westminster.
He however faces a tough challenge from Reform UK’s Robert Kenyon, who arrived to vote in a white van while wearing an England shirt and flanked by Nigel Farage.
(Excerpt) Read more at thesun.co.uk ...
Who cares - They’re replacing one leftist with another.
Yeah and it looks like he’ll succeed
thanks to a split vote !
Unfortunately likely, due to the split vote.
🚨NEW: Makerfield betting odds
(Implied chances of winning)
🌹 Labour: 85.73%
➡️ Reform UK: 11.79%
🦁 Restore Britain: 2.30%— GB Politics (@GBPolitcs) June 18, 2026
We’ll see what the final numbers are...but if a split vote does in fact cause Labour’s victory here (which is about more than a mere seat - this is about making a far more popular politician Prime Minister) - “Restore Britain” will have given the Left a big shot in the arm.
🚨NEW: Conservatives believe they have secured 1.5–2% of the vote in the Makerfield by-election
[@CharlieSimpsonA]— GB Politics (@GBPolitcs) June 18, 2026
Per AI, so FWIW, for anyone else curious...
“In the Makerfield constituency in the UK, approximately 14.8% of the working population is employed in public administration, education, and health, translating to roughly 5,500 to 6,000 citizens depending on current employment rates and the exact size of the active workforce.”
Those people have family, friends...
Restore didn’t split the vote.
It’s the only choice that isn’t status quo.
And I include Reform in the status quo.
'Nobody knows who Andy Burnham really is. The truth might turn out to be that he is a shapeshifting charlatan in a tracksuit, or Armani suit.'@PatrickChristys takes aim at Andy Burnham, the likely winner of the Makerfield by-election and potentially the next Prime Minister. pic.twitter.com/4HpqwHySi7— GB News (@GBNEWS) June 18, 2026
🚨NEW: Nigel Farage has left Makerfield— GB Politics (@GBPolitcs) June 19, 2026
A very important night for our party.
Restore Britain must now be treated as a serious national political party.
Pollsters must prompt us and the media must give us a fair hearing.
We are here to stay.— Rupert Lowe MP (@RupertLowe10) June 18, 2026
🚨 NEW: Labour sources believe Andy Burnham has secured 54% of the vote in the Makerfield by-election— Politics UK (@PolitlcsUK) June 19, 2026
Labour HOLD Makerfield.
Andy Burnham elected.— Britain Elects (@BritainElects) June 19, 2026
🚨BREAKING: The Labour Party has won the Makerfield by-election
🌹 LAB: 24,927
➡️ REF: 15,696
🦁 RES: 3,111
🌳 CON: 997
🌍 GRN: 308
🔶 LDM: 163
[Labour HOLD]— GB Politics (@GBPolitcs) June 19, 2026
Not even close.
Not that it matters, it’s all rearranging the deck chairs on The Titanic now.
Turnout about 55%...?
That’s the reporting anyway.
Scottish Conservatives win first Westminster by-election in more than 50 years
Check out the numbers and the turnout.
More food for thought, some recent election history for Makerfield...
https://members.parliament.uk/constituency/3594/election-history
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