Burnham Faces “Perilous” Race in Makerfield
The Guardian leads Monday with Burnham’s own allies describing his Makerfield by-election bid as “perilous”. While the Greater Manchester mayor is likely to be formally confirmed as Labour’s candidate this week, the paper says he faces an “uphill battle” to beat Reform UK, with polls suggesting he is only marginally ahead. The outcome, will determine not only the immediate political future of Sir Keir Starmer but also “the viability of Labour as a whole”. The Prime Minister spent the weekend at Chequers in discussions with aides over whether to “revive” the government or announce his exit; Lammy’s Sky News intervention now formally settles that question.
Josh Simons — the Labour MP vacating Makerfield to make way for Burnham — won the seat by a majority of just 5,399 over Reform UK at the 2024 general election; Labour’s polling has weakened nationally and locally since. Reform UK won every council ward in the constituency at last week’s local elections, and Nigel Farage has said he will “throw absolutely everything” at the by-election. The Daily Express front page reports Farage saying voters “deserve honesty” from Burnham; the Daily Mirror, by contrast, dedicates its front page to the Ben Needham case and the Daily Star leads with Burnham’s pledge to scrap VAR in football.