Makerfield. I wonder how it’s going!

FriedGreenTomatoes2

I suppose if Burnham does win (as forecast) then a leadership challenge will well and truly be on the cards. Maybe with a GE soon to settle the Labour chaos?

No, it won't be so dramatic, sorry, put away the popcorn.

Remember, first of all there will be an election for a mayor, and that will keep us in the Labour Party and all others busy. Reform will make a pitch for that and may even want it. then, there will be lots of internal chat as to if others will want to put themselves forward. Hurrying will help no one, and we are well aware of that as will Burnham.

There are major events affecting our county - ie the consequences of the war that Trump so stupidly started, that will go on affecting us all.

It's the press - and clearly the right as displayed here - want huge dramatic contests as in tomorrow - we don't, in the Labour Party: except for a few hotheads, we still value Starmer's international contributions, and if we want a change, an orderly one. and with our rules as regarding leadership contests, it takes a good deal of time.

We are not actually "in chaos". Sorry to disappoint.

The Guardian has a good "minute by minute" report soon the day (giving the guardian as accessible, as I can find no one else dong this!)

www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2026/jun/18/makerfield-byelection-polls-open-labour-leadership-andy-burnham-keir-starmer-latest-news-updates

By the way, included in the Guardian commentary, there is a special feature on "dogs at polling stations" ☺️ enjoy!

I bet Starmer secretly wants Burnham to lose. I hope he loses as well he's so entitled I think his moniker King of the North has gone to his head.

Well there isn't really a win for Starmer is there, if Burnham wins he is finished, and if Reform wins he is finished a bit further down the line.

Why

There are plenty of Labour Party members (myself included) who would vote for KS in a leadership election … should one take place.

I’m not convinced that KS would win … but IMO it certainly wouldn’t be the embarrassing drubbing that some folk (and the media) are hoping for.

How do you know Starmer is finished if Burnham wins . It is not a foregone conclusion that Burnham will gain the support of enough of the Labour party .Quite honestly anyone who is so disloyal and puts self before party isn't worthy of anyone's vote. No wonder Putin is rubbing his hand in glee, as another poster has said. Funny how this tack has been forgotten and Farage will be laughing all the way to the bank, Burnham has played into his hands.

In a BBC Question Time Makerfield special this month, Mr Burnham said that if Mr Streeting triggered a contest, he too would throw his hat in the ring.

LizzieDrip

There are plenty of Labour Party members (myself included) who would vote for KS in a leadership election … should one take place.

I’m not convinced that KS would win … but IMO it certainly wouldn’t be the embarrassing drubbing that some folk (and the media) are hoping for.

I know of a lot of people that are joining the party to support Keir although they need to be a member for six months to have a leadership vote. Also people like me that were considering resigning our membership if Burnham makes a bid for the leadership ( and, let’s face it ,he’s only using Makerfield as a stepping stone to that) will be keeping it so we can vote for the democratically elected PM.

Yes MayBee70 I’m holding on to my Labour Party membership too so I can vote in a future leadership election (if one arises)👍

I didn’t resign when I had huge differences with Corbyn (an idealist , shopping list of impossible polices that could no way be carried out, and he was very wobbly indeed on Brexit). One stays in,

(unless for example well for me it was something as massive as crawling after the USA and entering the Iraq war)

And campaigns for the policies and leader one feels best for the foreseeable.

And that is changing fairly rapidly atm, and unpredictable. But Labour has a massive majority in parliament: and the biggest challenge is not who we have as leader,

but working to end the dreadful divisions in our society

and the likes of not just Farage but the shadowy rich international interests and individuals behind the far right: when you have a trillionaire like Musk operating for a far right agenda,

and the likes of Tommy Robinson raising hell on our streets and threatening our vivid multicultural society ….. (and remember just how much we need people to fill critical work sectors)

Well look at the real matters at stake here. As far as I’m concerned Leader wise it’s a process that may or may not happen:

Burnham is a responsible politician and has a natural ease that comes across to key sectors of the population: Starmer may still prove himself to be a stayer’

The keys issues are not popcorn over a leadership fight, but the future direction of politics.

Oh I agree with that who leads the labour party ( out of those two) will make very little difference

If Burnham was a responsible politician he wouldn’t renege on his promise to the people of Manchester. He’s using the people of Makerfield and letting down the people in Manchester. I’m ashamed to be a Labour supporter at this moment in time; these shenanigans are as bad as the previous government with its musical chairs approach to its party leadership. And at a time when the government should be showing a united front against the threat from Russia.

Galaxy

Oh I agree with that who leads the labour party ( out of those two) will make very little difference

I think that who leads the LP will make a very big difference IF they are prepared to challenge the economic 'orthodoxy' that has brought us to the state we are in.

IMO they would need to challenge the BoE which is keeping interest rates high for entirely spurious reasons, challenge the idea that the secondary bond markets (which are just vehicles for speculation) settle the direction of our economy and to bring back some utilities into public ownership, notably the water industry (I think that would please a* huge* number of citizens), or at least, like transport, into public control. Then introduce some genuinely progressive taxation, (as suggested in Murphy's Taxing Wealth Report, not the unwieldy and unworkable 'wealth tax' which gaining favour).

I think these are all do-able and noticeable, within a relatively short period of time.

(And stop prattling on about 'Great British this and that. Just 'British, and truly British, would do fine)

i don't think burnham has any right to win, he is not doing it to be a mp for the people he is doing it to be pm, he is not going to come in and wave a magic wand, we will still have people in poverty, we will still have boats coming in and we will still have homeless people. burnham should get off his high horse and stick to being mayor.

Mind you, I don't know if Burnham could do what I think is needed, but I've more confidence in the idea of him doing at least some of that as PM than I do in Starmer and Reeves continuing their ruinous economic course..

I think we have a very poor selection of politicians of all parties and the UK's problems are so deep-seated as not to be solved by them, AB included.

MaizieD

Mind you, I don't know if Burnham could do what I think is needed, but I've more confidence in the idea of him doing at least some of that as PM than I do in Starmer and Reeves continuing their ruinous economic course..

If he does become PM I think he will try to take the party further left, instead of Starmer’s Tory light

Oh and please can someone sack Rachel Reeves 🤞🏻

GrannyGravy13

Oh and please can someone sack Rachel Reeves 🤞🏻

Yes, fingers crossed but please not Ed Miliband ( a friend of Burnham.)

FriedGreenTomatoes2

In a BBC Question Time Makerfield special this month, Mr Burnham said that if Mr Streeting triggered a contest, he too would throw his hat in the ring.

Streeting has said this week he will give Starmer the weekend to reflect and hopes that he will decided to stands down (on the assumption Burnham wins in Makerfield).

If not Burnham inferred in his statement the country cannot continue in its current state of paralysis so will make his leadership bid next week though he wouldn't be drawn on what day of the week it may be next week....

Much as I think he's hopeless, I think Starmer is less of a worry than anyone else who might stand. And he might see that he needs to be a bit more decisive.

And, as GG says, he needs to decisively get rid of Rachel.

MayBee70

If Burnham was a responsible politician he wouldn’t renege on his promise to the people of Manchester. He’s using the people of Makerfield and letting down the people in Manchester. I’m ashamed to be a Labour supporter at this moment in time; these shenanigans are as bad as the previous government with its musical chairs approach to its party leadership. And at a time when the government should be showing a united front against the threat from Russia.

I agree. Despite wanting Burnham to win so that Reform don’t get the seat the fact is that there should never have been a by-election, the whole think is rigged and Burnham has shown his true colours as a man prepared to stoop to any lengths to displace a man elected by the people just two years ago. Am wondering how long he has been holding a knife ready to do the dirty on Starmer.
Streeting is no better. Or Healy for resigning instead of hammering out his grievances with Starmer, obviously he is looking for a good position with Burnham.
The whole thing stinks to high heaven.
And as the Tories found out, this revolving door politics doesn’t help the country but helps careerist politicians to help themselves.

I do believe KS is a good man ( as in not corrupt and not a self serving money grabber) and wants to do his best- but he is not inspiring or a good communicator and has lost the support of the trade unions, much of his party and much of the general population sadly.

Whoever comes next, most likely Burnham, I doubt will keep Rachel Reeves as Chancellor. Both Burnham and Streeting are on a platform for "change".