POLLS OPEN IN CRUCIAL MAKERFIELD BY-ELECTION – Polls will close at 2200 BST on Thursday
Polls in a crucial by-election in northern England opened on Thursday morning (June 18), where Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham hopes to make his return to parliament.
Representing the Labour Party, a win by Burnham in the Makerfield election could see him becoming the frontrunner in any leadership challenge to current Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Following close behind Burnham in recent polls is Robert Kenyon, candidate of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party.
MP Josh Simons announced last month that he was stepping down to make way for Burnham to contest the seat and potentially challenge Starmer from within parliament, as Labour rules require.Polls will close at 2200 BST (2100 GMT) on Thursday, with the result of the by-election expected in the early hours of Friday (June 19).
