Andy Burnham arrives at Makerfield byelection count as Labour confident of beating Reform – UK politics live
Result expected around 3am as Labour’s Greater Manchester mayor hopes a win over Reform UK will help force the prime minister to step aside Polls close in Makerfield byelection as Andy Burnham eyes No 10 Burnham brings in top economists before possible leadership run David Blunkett , the former Labour cabinet minister, has suggested that Keir Starmer should stand down after the Makerfield byelection. In an interview on the BBC’s Newsnight, Blunkett suggested that Starmer standing aside would be
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
20.14 EDTReform UK gloomy about prospects in Makerfield, as one party source says Labour ahead by 2,500 votesJosh Halliday is the Guardian’s North of England editor.A Reform UK source just told me they currently expect to lose to Burnham by around 2,500 votes. An official spokesperson would not comment on numbers but said they believe it’s “fairly close” and that “no one’s running away with it.”The spokesperson denied reports that Nigel Farage had left Makerfield, saying he had just been on the phone to him and he was still in the constituency.Separately, a senior Labour source said it did not look like Restore Britain had been able to turnout its vote to the level that some had predicted.They said Rupert Lowe’s hardline anti-immigration party could “possibly” achieve 7% of the vote but…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at the Guardian.
Discussion
0 commentsMore from the Guardian
