Burnham Quits Mayoralty to Fight Makerfield by-election

Andy Burnham, Greater Manchester Mayor, is standing down to contest the Makerfield by-election on 18 June. The Labour candidate's move signals the party views the North West seat as a priority. Makerfield has voted Labour since 2010, but the 5,399-vote majority from July 2024 faces pressure from Reform UK's post-election consolidation efforts and lower by-election turnout.