Makerfield By-Election: Summary

By Jack James | June 18, 2026

Votes are currently being counted in the Ashton-in-Makerfield by-election, which could have significant implications for the future of the Labour Party. As ballot boxes arrive at the leisure centre hall, marking the end of the campaign, here is a summary of the key contests.

On 14 May, Andy Burnham announced that he would seek permission from Labour’s ruling body to stand in the by-election. He was approved by the National Executive Committee (NEC) on 19 May. Burnham has served as Mayor of Greater Manchester since leaving Parliament in 2017, having represented Leigh as MP from 2001 to 2017. The contest has attracted considerable speculation about the future of Keir Starmer’s leadership. It is now clear that if Burnham wins and returns to Parliament, he will challenge the Prime Minister.

Reform UK announced its candidate on the same day as Labour, 19 May: Rob Kenyon, a plumber, former Army reservist and local councillor. Kenyon presented himself as the “people’s candidate” throughout the campaign. He was joined on the trail by Nigel Farage, Suella Braverman, Sarah Pochin and other prominent Reform figures, travelling in his white van to connect with voters in Makerfield. His candidacy attracted attention due to previous comments widely regarded as sexist and sceptical of the COVID vaccine; despite this, Reform UK stood by him.

Restore Britain, Britain’s newest political party, is contesting a UK parliamentary election for the first time. The party announced its candidate, Rebecca Shepherd, on 18 May — a day before Reform UK and Labour. Shepherd has no previous experience as an elected politician and runs a local business. She has been accompanied on several occasions by Rupert Lowe in an effort to win support. The party has faced criticism for the risk of splitting the right-wing vote and thereby helping Andy Burnham advance.

The Conservative candidate is Michael Winstanley, who previously served as Mayor of Wigan. He has criticised Andy Burnham for using the by-election as a stepping stone to higher office, stressing that he is standing for Makerfield and Makerfield alone.

The Liberal Democrat candidate is local councillor Jake Austin, who previously stood against Andy Burnham in the 2024 Manchester mayoral election. His campaign has been relatively low-key, seeking to attract moderate votes from disaffected Labour supporters.

Chris Kennedy was announced as the Green Party candidate on 21 May but withdrew within hours, citing “family matters”. It later emerged that he had supported antisemitic comments regarding an attack on Jewish ambulances in London. Sarah Wakefield was subsequently selected as the Green Party candidate.

Fourteen candidates are standing in total: