Reuters in Makerfield: Voters Split Between Burnham and Reform
Reuters dispatched a correspondent to Ashton-in-Makerfield where voters are split between Andy Burnham and Reform UK. Former miner Anthony McCormack said he would back Burnham because he is “the right man for the job” and would “100%” make a better prime minister than Sir Keir Starmer, describing the current Prime Minister as “not a politician, he’s middle management”. Aesthetics nurse Rachael Hulse said her family had always voted Labour but “now, that’s completely changed”, and that she hoped Reform UK would win the seat.
Labour has held Makerfield in parliament since 1906, but Reform won all the council seats contested in the constituency in last week’s local elections. Reform leader Nigel Farage told GB News he would “throw absolutely everything” at the by-election. Pensioner Ann Garner said: “I think Keir Starmer should be given a chance. We really need to get the country sorted.” Burnham’s pitch quoted in the article: people in Makerfield “have long supported our party but lost faith in recent times. We will change Labour for the better and make it a party you can believe in again”. ITV News estimates the by-election is most likely on Thursday 18 June or 25 June.