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.

Well at least you didn't use the racist version of her name as others on the so called left do. That's progress I suppose.

This. I don't want Restore/Reform but I really don't want this arrogant little man to win. He's demonstrating himself entirely unsuitable for the role of prime minister in my opinion, or actually even of MP. Or mayor. His personal ambition very clearly matters more to him than the country, or taxpayer funds, and I personally think that's the exact opposite of what you want in a government representative. Starmer's useless, but yet another change in PM is ridiculous. We must be a fucking laughing stock - four prime ministers in five years?! What the hell happened to the grownups we were promised?

Agree on your Burnham analysis. I wrote a post upthread about his Manchester reputation having largely been built on the backs of others. What qualities and skills does he have to be PM?

Labour have consistently shown that they are far too free and easy with taxpayers' money. To them, the bank accounts, purses and wallets of working people seem little more than an extension of the public purse, there to be raided time and time again.

So if there is waste, inefficiency or poor value for money, why would they care? They will just raise taxes, borrow more and ask someone else to pick up the bill. After all tax payers, their homes, and any savings they may have squirrelled away are woefully under taxed...

Andy Burnham is far from perfect. His track record in Manchester seems to solely be about the bus network, good that it is, not the only thing that needs fixing.

The alternative of a Reform MP and especially the candidate is far worse. So I hope Andy Burnham wins.

And if Keir Starmer is voted out by Labour members, a better option than Wes Streeting.

While Kenyon would probably be a poor MP, his election will not change the course of this country as a Burnham win might. It is not right that a future PM is elected by one constituency. I know that's how our system works, but it's not good for democracy. I didn't agree with Gordon Brown, Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak or any of the countless PMs who have come into power in this way.

The fact you state that Burnham is far from perfect but seem resigned to him becoming PM says a lot about the state of our politics.

I've yet to hear any convincing narrative from Burnham as to what he'd DO that would be better than SKS. Sure, he'd be a better communicator with his own MPs and the public. But that's not a programme for government....

I mean, he even bigged up the WASPI women before changing his mind!

I don’t know why anyone thinks there won’t be a leadership contest if Burnham loses Makerfield. Streeting’s poised to trigger one whatever the result tonight. I imagine the backbenchers will be clamouring for it all the more in the event of a Reform win.

OP, I have been wondering how the people of Makerfield feel about this election. Are they generally excited like you or do they feel they are being used get Burnham into No. 10?

I think Restore will stop Reform getting in! Don't really think they'd definitely have won anyway though?

This is consistent with our system though - our system is deliberately intended to not require elections ever time a leader dies or resigns.

That was the opinion of the journalist who wrote the article and they made that clear. Kemi did not say that she would be willing to put Farage into No.10 if she didn't become PM herself. They have been enemies for quite some time.

That would only result in us ending up with a misogynistic idiot representing us in Parliament.

The journalist said Badenoch made it clear.

As for them being enemies. I don't know about that. They are both attending this event. They have a lot in common.

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/jun/18/leading-figures-eton-college-attend-rightwing-london-summit-alliance-for-responsible-citizenship

I know. As I said in my post, I understand it, I just don’t agree with it.

You can repeat that quote from the journalist as often as you want. It is what he said not what she said.

And you may not know about them being enemies but I do. In January 2025 for example, the Independent observed that:

Nigel Farage has escalated his spat with Kemi Badenoch, threatening to directly target her North West Essex constituency in the next general election.

After the Tory leader accused her Reform UK rival of lying about the party’s membership figures, Mr Farage responded by promising to plough time and money into ousting her from the seat.

The Reform UK leader said the move was payback after she was “so rude” and “unpleasant” over the issue.

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/nigel-farage-kemi-badenoch-reform-uk-confernce-b2673819.html

That is hardly sworn enemy territory. It shows how thin Farage's skin is, though.

I hope we never have to find out whether or not she would prop up Farage. Maybe he'll be toast before 2029. 🤞

There are more examples if you want me to find them - they dislike each other.

Iam hoping all the useful idiots amongst the Reform voters have terrible hangovers after that football match and don’t bother to vote.

I live in Makerfield. I have just been to the polling station and it was very busy. I voted for the Monster Raving Loony Party as I am so pissed off at having this election forced upon us to satisfy Andy’s ego.

Polling suggests that the vote for Restore will be significant which will split the right-wing vote & deliver a fairly comfortable win to Burnham. We’ll see, but the TV political editors will be getting briefings from their sources inside the parties shortly after 10pm. If those briefings say ‘it’s too close to call’ then it really will be game on.

Scenario 1 : Burnham wins. Not much happens over the weekend then on Monday he delivers an ultimatum to Starmer : Announce a timetable for your departure or face a leadership challenge which you will lose & be humiliated. Starmer quits. Burnham has overwhelming support among Labour MPs & becomes leader & PM by a coronation.

Scenario 2 : Reform wins. Burnham continues as mayor of Manchester. On Monday Miliband resigns, possibly followed by Mahmood. Streeting delivers the same ultimatum. Starmer decides he’s bluffing again & tells him to put up or shut up. Then we see whether Wes really does have the numbers. If he does, a leadership contest happens in which Starmer stands. Then, it’s anybody’s guess who wins. If he doesn’t, Starmer probably struggles on.

Aw. You could have voted Count Binface!
What was the mood? Do many people feel the same about Burnham?

I’d like Burnham to win and give the Labour Party a spine to match their majority.

Also noted on Badenoch in the Spectator. I would have held my nose and voted Conservative to avoid a Reform government. If she backs them then no way. Vote Kemi get Farage? Just no.

No, I don’t want TWAW Oxbridge-to-think-tank Burnham to win.

I would like a Conservative win but that’s probably the least likely outcome.

A woman was standing outside with her dog. A man told her she could take her dog inside. Her reply was, well he has to keep guard to ensure only the correct voters can go inside. I know it’s only a joke, but it comes across as very snooty. There was also a police van parked outside due to earlier disturbances involving people arguing. A very ugly election, to be honest.