Labour and Reform UK choose candidates to fight Makerfield by-election in June

Candidates for the Makerfield by-election are being announced in a political race which could lead to a new Prime Minister.

Labour and Reform UK have confirmed who will stand for the election - which is most likely to take place in 18 June - with Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham confirmed as standing.

Reform UK has chosen Robert Kenyon, a local plumber who contested the seat for the party in 2024. Announcing his party's candidate, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage MP described the contest as a “David versus Goliath battle”.

Mr Burnham has put himself forward as the candidate to “change Labour”, using a campaign video to call for a “new path for Britain”.

If he returns to Parliament, Mr Burnham is widely expected to challenge Sir Keir Starmer for the Labour leadership, but the Prime Minister has insisted he will not “walk away” from Downing Street.

The by-election was triggered by former minister Josh Simons quitting the Makerfield seat to make way for the Greater Manchester Mayor to run for a return to Westminster and a possible challenge against Sir Keir.

The news of parties selecting their candidates for the contest comes as MPs triggered the formal process of holding a by-election in the Labour MP's vacated seat.

In a process known as "moving the writ", a by-election must now be held between 21 and 27 days from 19 May.

In his video, Greater Manchester Mayor Mr Burnham described the by-election as "the most consequential of our lives" and said he did not "take anything for granted".

Setting out his political views, he said: "Manchesterism is the end of neoliberalism, the end of trickle-down economics that has left out places like Makerfield.

"Make no mistake, that means a new path for Britain."

Mr Burnham has sought to reassure voters in the Leave-supporting Makerfield constituency that he is not seeking to rejoin the European Union – something he said last year he would like to see happen in his lifetime.

And he has also attempted to calm the bond markets by insisting he will stick to the Government’s fiscal rules.

Reform UK has already said the "expensive by-election is all about (Mr Burnham’s) own personal ambition" rather than the best interests of the constituency.

The party said the self-employed plumber, who has served as an army reservist and previously worked as a specialist technician for the NHS in Lancashire, will stand.

Mr Farage said: “This by-election contest is now a David versus Goliath battle. This is ‘the plucky plumber’ taking on ‘open borders Burnham’. "Only Reform UK can beat Labour in this by-election."

Mr Kenyon, who was born in the constituency and won 31.8% of the vote in 2024, said: "Makerfield has never had a member of Parliament who was actually born in Makerfield.

"This will be a tough fight but I am going to give this contest my best shot."

The news came as Sir Keir Starmer gathered his new-look cabinet for the first time since Wes Streeting resigned as Health Secretary and called on the Prime Minister to quit.

Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy joked it was "nicer week than last week" as he arrived for the meeting, with Sir Keir hoping to show the business of government was continuing despite the Westminster turmoil.

Starmer has insisted he will not set out a timetable for his departure even if the Greater Manchester Mayor returns to parliament.

If the PM does not resign, Burnham would need to secure the backing of 81 Labour MPs to mount a leadership challenge, potentially setting up a contest with Starmer for party members’ votes.

Pollster Luke Tryl, director of More In Common, said Mr Burnham’s name on the ballot paper could be worth a 20-point boost to Labour’s prospects in a seat otherwise "tailor-made" for Reform UK.

Mr Tryl said the mayor’s popularity meant he started the race "narrowly ahead", but added "anything could happen" during the campaign, with Mr Burnham’s handling of a "change message" likely to prove vital.

"Andy Burnham definitely wants it to be Andy Burnham versus Reform. If it’s Labour versus Reform, Reform win," he added.

Andy Burnham's four-minute campaign video

Mr Burnham used a slick campaign video to set out his vision after saying his attempt to win the Makerfield by-election was motivated by the need to “change Labour”.

In the video, soundtracked by a series of Manchester bands including Elbow, James and Oasis, Burnham said he wanted “a new path for Britain”.

Cabinet minister Pat McFadden, an ally of Sir Keir, told reporters: "Any unnecessary by-election is always a risk.

"It’s the voters who have their say, but like any by-election that is called for whatever reason, I want Labour to win."

Robert Kenyon's campaign video

One of Mr Burnham’s supporters suggested the mayor would not seek an immediate leadership fight.

Leeds MP Alex Sobel told LBC it was not his "expectation" that Mr Burnham would immediately trigger a contest, saying he would "come back and potentially serve in the Government, try and help us turn this Government round".

Meanwhile, polling by YouGov suggested Mr Burnham would be Labour members’ preferred candidate for leader, with 47% saying he would be their first choice for the job.

Some 31% ranked Sir Keir as their first choice, followed by former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner on 8%.

Just 4% ranked Wes Streeting as their first choice, with 57% saying he was wrong to resign as health secretary and 15% backing him in a head-to-head contest with the Prime Minister.

In a contest between Mr Burnham and Sir Keir, 59% said they would back the mayor while 37% would support the Prime Minister.

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