Makerfield - today's the day.

[Kayemm]

Having lived in this constituency all my life I used to want to live somewhere where I felt my vote mattered rather than in a very safe labour seat.

Now I'm here and living with the reality, I'm so very nervous.

It does absolutely amaze me that I know so many people who won't vote today.

Watching this by-election with interest as an external observer and have been thinking about it, what are your hopes for the result ? The news at the moment makes me feel like there’s a lurch to the far right and with the spotlight on this by-election it’s a microcosm for a wider issue. It’s a pity though that some won’t use their voice to vote the polls seem to show a narrow race? From the outside there seems so much vitriol towards diversity - happy to be proven wrong

I like Burnham but I hope he gets his arse kicking today.

Burnham is odds on to win and he would be a huge lurch to the left.

What reason do people in Makerfield give for not voting today @Kayemm ?

Why would you want someone you like to get their arse kicked?

I'm Labour. I don't agree with all the policies but they are my closest match and I am very scared of the far right's popularity.

Reasons for not voting...
They're all the same
No matter what they say nothing changes
I don't understand it

Why?

Because he's been a great Mayor for Manchester but that role has not given him the free rein to show just how left of centre he is that becoming PM would.

Ah ok…I don’t know much about the man, so was just wondering. Makes sense, thanks for explaining 👌🏻

Problem is-it’s him or Reform. Time for pragmatism.

I fear Reform are going to do better the expected- shy Reform vote.

Reform in a by election would knock some sense into Labour before the next election. Reform to form a government, no way, but by elections are different.

I really hope Burnham does it today.

Not because I’m particularly devoted to him, just that I genuinely do not believe that we need anymore surging to the right, and Kenyon seems like a significantly worse choice.

I don't think Reform voters are shy any more, though. They are loud and proud!

I think it will be very close. Burnham will probably win, but I also wouldn't be surprised if the misogynist pips him to the post.

How could anyone vote for Kenyon after his messages about women ? Well done to Carol Voderman for shining a light on that

I think Burnham will get in as Restore will take some of the Reform votes. I hope he doesn't, I don't think he will make a good PM and I'd like Labour to get a wake up call about how much bad feeling there is in some parts of the country. Hopefully they would then address some of the issues that Reform and Restore rely on to stop either of them becoming the next Government.

I'd like him to win by about three votes to knock some of that overbearing confidence out of him. I don't want a change of leadership. He and Streeting can do one. Now is not the time.

Andy Burnham should have waited until the next election and campaigned for a seat then. It is arrogance of the highest order that one, possibly two elections are being held costing millions because of his personal ambitions.

I hope, if he does win, that he is unsuccessful in challenging Keir Starmer.

Farage seemed nervous, I think the candidate wasn't great and Restore gained ground on his key issues.

I completely agree.

What result do you think would mean Streeting has the least chance of being PM? I just don't know what I want to happen as my main worry as Streeting in power. I hate Labour (and also Reform), but given that we have a Labour government I think Starmer continuing as PM is probably the best option. But really anything other than Streeting. Given that, what result in Makerfield should I be hoping for?

If Burnham doesn't win, Streeting has indicated he would still challenge and claims to have the support needed but there is some doubt over this.

If Streeting does launch a challenge on his own, other contenders might throw in their lot e.g. Angela Rayner, Ed Miliband.

I completely agree this is why I hope he’s deservedly beaten. Though I doubt he will be.

Shy Reform voters

Like those holding a banner stating they’d ‘Rather Vote for Jimmy Savile than Labour’?

Thanks. So I guess I'm bizarrely hoping for a Burnham win then.