Burnham says politics ‘needs new script’ as he launches Makerfield byelection campaign – UK politics live
From 35m ago 10.54 BST 'Hope is in the air,' says Burnham at campaign launch Andy Burnham has welcomed supporters at his campaign launch, telling
From 35m ago 10.54 BST 'Hope is in the air,' says Burnham at campaign launch Andy Burnham has welcomed supporters at his campaign launch, telling them “this means the world to me”. “Hope is in the air, can you feel it?” he said. “This is not business as usual. This is not more of the same … British politics is tired. It needs a new script. And over the next four weeks, the people of Makerfield are going to write that script.” Share 5m ago 11.23 BST Liberal Democrats announce Makerfield byelection candidate Burnham has finished his speech, just as we get an announcement from the Liberal Democrats on their candidate for the Makerfield byelection. Stockport councillor Jake Austin will stand for the party. He was born in the constituency and contested the Greater Manchester mayoral election against Burnham in 2024, coming sixth, according to PA. Austin said: double quotation mark I’m thrilled to have been selected as the Liberal Democrat candidate for Makerfield. Voters in Makerfield deserve so much more than the failing Labour government or the divisive politics of Reform UK. We have a real opportunity to champion the issues that matter most to people: the cost of living, protecting our natural environment and supporting our local high streets and businesses. Share 12m ago 11.17 BST Burnham: 'A vote for me is a vote to change Labour' Continuing on the theme of change, Burnham said a vote for him in the Makerfield byelection is “a vote to change Labour”. double quotation mark I know my own party needs to change. We need to be better than we’ve been. We’ve not been good enough. And I want to leave people in no doubt today, a vote for me in this byelection campaign is a vote to change Labour. Share 15m ago 11.13 BST He hailed the successes of Greater Manchester and Liverpool since he left Westminster in 2017.
double quotation mark We’ve stood side by side, making the argument for something better for the north-west, through the devolved power that we have got and that we hold together. And in those ten years we have built a new politics. We’ve worked on a place first basis, rather than party first. We’ve focused on problem solving rather than point scoring. And you know what? When you do that and you work differently, it’s amazing what you can achieve, isn’t it? Share 20m ago 11.09 BST On transport, Burnham says “I like my buses” (they were taken back under public control in Greater Manchester in 2023) but he was woeful about the cost of rail journeys. double quotation mark £364 is the cost of an anytime return from Wigan North Western to London Euston. So how can people here connect with the capital and all of the opportunities it’s got, if they cannot afford those train fares? We need to use rail re-nationalisation to reduce those train fares and make them affordable to people again. Share 26m ago 11.03 BST Burnham said the Makerfield byelection is a “clarion call for change”. A lot of change, according to the Greater Manchester mayor. double quotation mark Change to the economy, change to education, change to housing, change to transport, change to care, and yes, to make it all possible. Change to politics. Share Updated at 11.03 BST 29m ago 10.59 BST Burnham has spoken about his connections to the local area, saying his home is just 2 miles from where he is speaking. “I love it so much that I brought my own family up here, I live here, I have lived here for 25 years,’ he said. “My home is 2 miles over there. I could walk to this campaign centre.” He talked about how the area has struggled with poverty, rising costs and unemployment.
double quotation mark We’ve had 40 years of policies that have hurt the high streets of this constituency, 40 years of policies that have left people struggling to afford the everyday basics of their lives. Policies that took away the good jobs that were once in these communities and have not done anything to replace them or put them back. Share Updated at 11.26 BST 35m ago 10.54 BST 'Hope is in the air,' says Burnham at campaign launch Andy Burnham has welcomed supporters at his campaign launch, telling them “this means the world to me”. “Hope is in the air, can you feel it?” he said. “This is not business as usual. This is not more of the same … British politics is tired. It needs a new script. And over the next four weeks, the people of Makerfield are going to write that script.” Share 39m ago 10.50 BST Andy Burnham launches byelection campaign Andy Burnham is speaking at the official launch of his campaign for the Makerfield byelection. You can watch live below or on top of the page (you may need to refresh for the video to appear) as we bring you the updates: Andy Burnham launches his campaign for Makerfield by-election – watch live Share 43m ago 10.46 BST PA has reported a number of Labour MPs are at Burnham’s campaign launch, including Jonathan Reynolds, Kim Johnson, Barry Gardiner, Ian Byrne, Chris Webb and Rebecca Long-Bailey. Also showing their support are Liverpool metro mayor Steve Rotheram and interim leader of Welsh Labour Ken Skates. Share 51m ago 10.38 BST While we wait for Andy Burnham to arrive at the official launch of his campaign as Labour’s candidate for the Makerfield byelection, here are some newswire pictures from Stubshaw Cross Community and Sports Club in Ashton-in-Makerfield.
View image in fullscreen Election campaign posters in the window of Stubshaw Cross Community and Sports Club in Ashton-in-Makerfield. Photograph: Peter Byrne/PA View image in fullscreen Chief whip Jonathan Reynolds takes a selfie with a Labour party supporter. Photograph: Peter Byrne/PA View image in fullscreen A child carries a placard with a message in support of Greater Manchester mayor and Labour candidate Andy Burnham. Photograph: Temilade Adelaja/Reuters Share 1h ago 10.19 BST UK borrows more than forecast in April as inflation adds to benefits bill Richard Partington The UK borrowed more than expected in April as high inflation drove up the cost of pensions and benefits, amid concern over the Iran war and political uncertainty adding to debt costs. The Office for Statistics (ONS) said public sector net borrowing – the difference between government spending and income – was £24.3bn in April 2026, £4.9bn higher than in April 2025. Amid bond market jitters over the Middle East conflict and a Labour leadership challenge, the figure was £3.4bn higher than forecast by City economists and the Office for Budget Responsibility. Rising borrowing costs on financial markets drove the UK’s debt interest payments to £10.3bn in April, £900m more than a year ago and the highest in any April on record. Grant Fitzner, the ONS chief economist, said: “Borrowing this month was substantially higher than in April last year and although receipts increased compared with April 2025, this was more than offset by higher spending on benefits and other costs.” Read more here: UK borrows more than forecast in April as inflation adds to benefits bill Read more Share
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