MAKERFIELD — The Makerfield byelection is scheduled for 18 June 2025, with Labour candidate Andy Burnham holding a narrow lead over Reform UK’s Robert Kenyon, according to polling by Survation. The poll also placed Restore Britain in third with 7% of the vote.
Flooding that struck the constituency on New Year’s Day 2025 has emerged as a central issue, with some residents still displaced months later. Elizabeth Whitehurst, whose home in Abram was affected, said: “It was extremely difficult. There was no help, there was nothing.” She added she would vote for Burnham because she believes Reform UK and Restore Britain “had no interest in Green issues.”
Robert Kenyon, Reform UK’s candidate, has faced scrutiny over past online statements, including remarks described as sexist and homophobic. One post referred to gay people using a derogatory slur, which he has not disavowed. Kenyon has also called climate change a “middle-class issue.” This stance contrasts with local concerns over repeated flooding and environmental degradation, including a 25,000-tonne illegal waste dump in Bickershaw.
Michelle Hogan, head of a supply chain for a fruit juice manufacturer, said: “I wouldn’t [be] voting for Labour if it wasn’t for Andy Burnham.” Hogan added: “I’ve always liked Andy Burnham, but I think he’s got a track record now with what he’s done for Manchester, and I just think he’s a personable, down-to-earth bloke, who working-class people can relate to.” She noted she skipped voting in the last general election and would have supported the Green Party if Burnham were not running.
The Green Party has fielded Sarah Wakefield as its candidate, a decision the party defends despite concerns from some voters that it could split the pro-environment vote. Meanwhile, Makerfield has lacked a Metrolink tram connection, and residents report it can take an hour to reach Manchester city centre by public transport.
Labour has represented Makerfield continuously since the 1900s. Burnham, currently mayor of Manchester and former MP for neighboring Leigh, is seeking to retain the seat for his party. Voters cite economic decline and infrastructure neglect as key concerns. An unnamed pensioner in Bickershaw Lane said she and her husband were out of their house for eight months due to flooding and that the property has since plummeted in value. She added: “This particular thing is not climate change, this is flooding. There are so many new properties being built in this area.”