Voters are heading to the polls in Makerfield today in a by-election that could have consequences far beyond the Greater Manchester constituency.
While the contest was triggered by the resignation of Labour MP Josh Simons, the result could be a potential turning point not only for the Labour Party, but for the future leadership of Greater Manchester and, potentially, the country.
If Burnham wins, attention is expected to shift immediately to two further contests – a Labour leadership battle and a by-election to replace him as Mayor of Greater Manchester.
Polling stations across Makerfield opened at 7am and will remain open until 10pm, with the result expected in the early hours of Friday morning.
The Labour candidate faces a crowded field of 14 candidates, including Reform UK’s Robert Kenyon, who has emerged as his main challenger in a contest that is being closely watched.
Burnham has framed his campaign as an opportunity to “change Labour” from within, while critics argue the by-election has become a proxy battle over the future direction of both Labour and the wider centre-left.
A Burnham victory would also trigger a Greater Manchester mayoral by-election, opening up one of the most influential regional political roles in the UK.
Since becoming mayor in 2017, Burnham has become one of the most recognisable political figures outside Westminster, using the role to campaign on transport reform, housing, skills, homelessness and devolution.
The position now oversees powers affecting a city-region economy worth more than £80bn annually and plays a significant role in attracting investment, supporting business growth and shaping policy across the North West.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has already acknowledged the significance of the potential mayoral contest, describing it as “very important” and saying Labour would need to “pull our sleeves up” to retain the role if Burnham returns to Parliament.
The polls close at 10pm.
