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.

Word on the street is that if there is to be a leadership challenge, Burnham would have the strongest chance of defeating Keir Starmer. However, I don't think it's a done deal by any means, KS still has a lot of support among backbenchers.

Of course, Starmer may step down and hand the seat to Burnham but I think this is very unlikely unless he thought he had no chance of winning.

Exactly. If a by-election was happening in my constituency, I'd have to hold my nose and vote Tory. Then come home and shower for an hour.

We've reached 'anything but Reform/Restore' territory.

One thing I know - if I were a Makerfield constituent I would be extremely undecided who to vote for.

Polling amongst the membership a while back showed that Starmer would beat Streeting. Streeting isn't popular. So whoever wins Makerfield, Streeting is unlikely to become leader.

After watching virtually the first council meeting of a newly elected Reform council…very dangerous their lack of knowledge, evidence and cheap jibes.

Dangerous given the very serious and critical statutory duties of LA’s.

The Reform councillor responsible for Children and Young People has removed the regular Corporate Parent (Children in Care) overview meetings, to save money. He is justifying this by saying that a different meeting will happen where vulnerable families and parents will be able to share their stories and information! He has no understanding of his strategic role and the confidentiality requirements. Councillors are not involved with families, nor should they know any details. Dangerous, lack of knowledge.

We need councillors and MP’s who know what they are doing.

This one insults his own constituents alongside being racist.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgmq1v6d3vo

I agree with this. Burnham's arrogance is astounding and It would be quite frightening to see him fly free as a Labour leader. Power mad and arrogant.

For once the votes from just this one by election will really impact every single person for years. I don't envy them.

Well that's good news

I hope Reform don’t get in. I think Kenyon is an awful excuse for a human being and quite frankly just isn’t good enough to represent the good citizens of Makerfield.

They are. If I ever vote Reform I'm not telling anybody.

Out of interest, why are you anti-Streeting?

His capital gains tax proposal.

Doesn't matter who leads the Labour party, all they seem to spend their time doing is looking how to go after worker's money...be it income tax, inheritance etc etc to fund those who don't work. Utterly sick of it.

If you mean to equalise with income tax, I believe Burnham is just as likely, if not more, to propose this. He's more left wing than Streeting.

Hells bells

Weird that Farage is still in hiding 🤔

Hiding? He was in Makerfield yesterday afaik.

Has he been talking to the press? Not just selective press?

No idea, but he's not 'hiding'.

OMG.

From scrutiny he is.

Not Ed or Rayner, please!!!

Personally I would like to see Andy Burnham lose because he has triggered an unnecessary by election to satisfy his own personal political ambitions rather than out of the interests of or trying to improve the needs of the Makerfield voters.

If I lived in Makerfield I would be annoyed at being used to give Andy a chance at being PM.
I think he will win but by a narrower margin than the Bookies price indicates.
Keir is weak but stubborn and will make a fight to stay on. That will cause all kinds of trouble within the Labour Party.
Reform might take the Mayoralty.
Chaos all round and not solving the CoL probs or Defence spending.
Vote Tory soon.

Reform councillors not just voters