The 1965 Leyton by-election precedent not good for Labour
The 2026 Makerfield by-election in the United Kingdom parliamentary constituency of Makerfield was triggered by the announcement of Labour MP Josh Simons that he intended to resign from Parliament, and took place on Thursday 18th June 2026.
Labour's Andy Burnham won the election with 24,927 votes and became Member of Parliament for Makerfield. Thirteen defeated candidates achieved a combined total of just 20,549 votes.[1]
Labour gamble
Simons announced his intention to resign amid the ongoing government crisis to allow Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to stand. It is the first time in over sixty years that a by-election has been caused specifically to provide a seat for a figure outside Parliament, the previous time being the 1965 by-election in the safe Labour seat in Leyton, east London. On that occasion, Labour's Patrick Gordon Walker lost the seat to the Conservatives.
Initial skirmishes
Conservatives
Brushing aside suggestions that the Tories should stand aside for Reform UK, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch confirmed in an interview with GB News that the Conservative Party will be fielding a candidate for the Makerfield by-election.[2]
“We are looking forward to the campaign. We’ve learned from our campaigning and wins in Gorton and Denton and the recent local elections, and we’ve shown we can beat Reform UK.
“We’re a democratic party and our local members choose their candidates. We have already started the candidate selection process for any potential by-election in Makerfield.”
Responding to the announcement, former leader Caroline Lucas said:
“I hope this isn’t true. There are times when it’s more important to put country before party. This is one of them. Burnham’s longstanding commitment to a fairer voting system could transform our democracy and counter the dire threat of a Reform UK government.”[3]
Reform
Reform UK said they will “throw absolutely everything” at winning in Makerfield, after disgraced former minister Josh Simons quit Parliament to let Burnham contest the seat for Labour. Speaking to LBC's Nick Ferrari at Breakfast, Reform's deputy leader Richard Tice said:
“I'm not in charge of the selection process, but it will be very rapid. And the campaign will be all about vote Reform. Make Burnham history, because he has to resign also as Mayor of Greater Manchester.
“We want him to be a part of history as opposed to coming back into Parliament.”[4]
Candidates
Jake Austin, Liberal Democrats is a Stockport Councillor who was born in the constituency and contested the Greater Manchester mayoral election in 2024.
Andy Burnham, Labour Party, is officially confirmed as the Labour candidate.[5] Burnham, a former Labour government minister, has been the region's metropolitan mayor since 2017.
Howling Laud Hope is the Official Monster Raving Loony Party candidate. In a statement posted on social media, the party said: "We can confirm that our glorious leader Alan "Howlin" Laud Hope... will be standing against Andy Burnham in the forthcoming election in Makerfield."
Having been announced as the Green Party candidate at around 7:30am on Thursday May 21st, [7]Chris Kennedy stood down at about 4:30pm, citing “personal and family reasons”.[8]
A Green Party spokesperson said:
“We wish Chris the best and understand that family has to come first.
“As a party, we are re-opening nominations now because we believe people in Makerfield deserve a real choice at this by-election, and the Green Party will be standing to offer exactly that.
“Across the country, more and more voters are turning away from the old parties and looking for politicians who will genuinely stand up for their communities.
“We will also be redoubling our efforts on campaigning to expose the risk of Reform UK, a party that seeks to divide our communities.
“This election has to be about how to make the super-rich pay their fair share, how we tackle the cost-of-living crisis with lower bills and affordable housing, and how we protect our public services and our green spaces.
“It has to be about offering Makerfield hope over hate.”
Nominations for a replacement candidate open on Saturday, 23rd May, with a selection meeting planned for Bank Holiday Monday 25th.[9]
