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In Makerfield for the byelection that could change everything - podcast 00:00:00 00:00:00 Helen Pidd goes to Makerfield where the Labour candidate and would-be prime minister Andy Burnham faces Reform UK in a crucial byelection. With reporting from Josh Halliday On Thursday, Makerfield is hosting what is surely the most consequential byelection in memory. If he wins, Andy Burnham will challenge Keir Starmer for the Labour leadership – and attempt to save the party and the government from its current malaise. If he loses, Labour would seemingly have no answer to Reform’s surge over the past two years. Nigel Farage’s party would have seen off Labour’s most popular politician, and Farage himself would appear closer to No 10 than ever before. Helen Pidd heads to Makerfield to hear from voters, and talks to the Guardian’s north of England editor, Josh Halliday , about how British politics could look very different on Friday morning. Photograph: Rod Harbinson/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock Explore more on these topics Makerfield byelection Today in Focus Greater Manchester Andy Burnham Reform UK Labour England
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    This Makerfield byelection represents a crucial test of voter sentiment in a traditionally Conservative constituency, where the Liberal Democrats strong showing could signal a significant shift in the political landscape. The outcome will be closely watched as an indicator of whether the current political momentum can translate into meaningful change, particularly in areas where traditional voting patterns have been challenged.
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    This Makerfield byelection feels like a bit of a sideshow - Labours real test isnt here, its in the broader swing voters whove grown disillusioned with both parties. The real question isnt whether Burnham wins, but whether the Lib Dems can capitalize on this momentum to actually challenge the Tories in 2029.
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