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Wes Streeting Backs Andy Burnham for Makerfield by-Election
Streeting said Burnham is Labour’s best chance of holding the seat as Reform UK surged to 50.4% in local wards, party figures said.
- On Friday, Labour deputy leader Lucy Powell backed Andy Burnham's bid for the Makerfield by-election after MP Josh Simons announced his resignation, declaring Burnham, Wes Streeting and Angela Rayner should be seen as 'key players' in the party.
- Burnham's path faced obstacles after Labour's National Executive Committee rejected his Gorton and Denton candidacy earlier this year, though Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is understood not to intend blocking him a second time; the NEC must decide next week.
- Former Health Secretary Wes Streeting endorsed Burnham as 'the best chance of winning' on Friday, tweeting Labour needs 'our best players on the pitch,' despite allies confirming he would contest any leadership battle after resigning Thursday.
- Reform UK won all eight Makerfield wards earlier this month with 50.4% of the vote versus Labour's 22.7%, reversing 2024 positions when Simons held a 5,399 majority; Ladbrokes gives Labour a 64% winning chance at 4/7 odds.
- A Makerfield victory would position Burnham to challenge Starmer for the Labour leadership later this year, requiring 81 Labour MP nominations, as Powell warned the party against 'bloody internal battles' consuming it as they did the Conservatives.
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources14
Leaning Left5Leaning Right3Center5Last UpdatedBias Distribution39% Left, 38% Center
Bias Distribution
- 39% of the sources lean Left, 38% of the sources are Center
39% Left
L 39%
C 38%
R 23%
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