politics
What does Makerfield make of by-election and can Burnham win?
Key takeaways
- The constituency, which is home to around 76,000 voters in the suburbs of Wigan and nearby former mining towns and villages, has not traditionally been a hotbed of political intrigue.
- A safe Labour seat since it was created in 1983, it has recently seen Reform UK sweep the board in local council elections, like many other parts of the country.
- Reform's rise is one of the factors that has led to pressure on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to resign, with many of his own MPs calling for him to stand down and start a contest for a new Labour leader.
Why this matters: political developments that affect policy direction and public trust.
James Gregory,Political reporterand Rumeana Jahangir,BBC North West EPAThe residents of Makerfield are about to find themselves at the epicentre of the political universe as a by-election battle that could decide the next prime minister is set to take place on their doorstep.
The constituency, which is home to around 76,000 voters in the suburbs of Wigan and nearby former mining towns and villages, has not traditionally been a hotbed of political intrigue.
A safe Labour seat since it was created in 1983, it has recently seen Reform UK sweep the board in local council elections, like many other parts of the country.
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