Andy Burnham faces an anxious wait for the results of the Makerfield by-election, with the outcome set to decide whether he can challenge Sir Keir Starmer to become prime minister.
Politicians have been at polling stations and greeting supporters in the Wigan constituency all day, where the result has long been forecast to be a close contest between Labour’s Andy Burnham and Reform UK’s Robert Kenyon.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage arrived at a polling station alongside Mr Kenyon on Thursday, while Mr Burnham urged voters to “for ever associate this area with having brought a change to British politics”.
If former health secretary Mr Burnham wins, he is expected to challenge Sir Keir for the party leadership.
But Mr Kenyon also has had strong support in polls since the by-election was announced. Reform is worried about losing voters to Rupert Lowe’s party, Restore Britain, which takes a harder line on migration.
Wes Streeting, also an ex-health secretary, says if Mr Burnham stands against Sir Keir, he will join the contest.
The list of candidates is here.Polls will close at 10pm.
