Could Andy Burnham be heading for defeat?

Andy Burnham’s confidence about winning the Makerfield by-election on June 18 is not matched by some local campaigners, and those who have visited the area to canvass for Labour.

Last weekend, Burnham responded to an AI-generated social media post by Nigel Farage showing small boat migrants holding banners reading “Vote Andy For Us”. His taunting message was: “Getting desperate, lad? Maybe keep your crypto millions for something else.” But behind the scenes, Team
Burnham are worried about the result. Rupert Lowe’s Restore UK party keeps coming up on the doorsteps, while Reform posters are widely visible – and Labour ones are not.

Suggested Reading

The Daily Express, the plucky plumber and some spectacular hypocrisy

Rats in a Sack

The Greater Manchester mayor gets a positive response when on walkabouts. But when he is not around, campaigners say that while voters tell them they admire Burnham, they often go on to explain that they will not be voting for him this time because of anger at the government’s slow progress on change.

Immigration and a lack of affordable housing are key issues, as is the desire
of many to get rid of Keir Starmer. But alas for Andy, not many plan to achieve that by voting for the man who wants to replace Starmer as prime minister.