Metral
Markets

This major Makerfield victory has made it inevitable: it’s now time for Keir Starmer to step aside | Neal Lawson

Andy Burnham’s positive vision has struck a powerful blow to Reform – but the PM risks diminishing the impact by clinging on in No 10Neal Lawson is director of the cross-party campaign organisation CompassThat tingle of emotion you felt when you awoke today? That is the long-lost feeling of progressive hope. That it comes from Makerfield is all the more remarkable. Reform has been defeated in a seat that it should have won at a canter – trailing Labour, even when its voteshare is combined with t

This major Makerfield victory has made it inevitable: it’s now time for Keir Starmer to step aside | Neal Lawson

This major Makerfield victory has made it inevitable: it’s now time for Keir Starmer to step aside | Neal Lawson

Published June 19, 2026 · Category: Markets

Overview

Andy Burnham’s positive vision has struck a powerful blow to Reform – but the PM risks diminishing the impact by clinging on in No 10

  • Neal Lawson is director of the cross-party campaign organisation Compass

That tingle of emotion you felt when you awoke today? That is the long-lost feeling of progressive hope. That it comes from Makerfield is all the more remarkable. Reform has been defeated in a seat that it should have won at a canter – trailing Labour, even when its voteshare is combined with that of Restore. It finished second there in the 2024 election and it recently won all of the council seats. If Reform had faced any other politician, its candidate, Robert Kenyon, would be heading to Westminster.

Details

But Reform was up against Andy Burnham, probably the only Labour candidate who could have held Makerfield. He is the only candidate for the party’s leadership who can defeat Reform, and the causes of Reform, and bring in a new era of progressive government. To say there was a lot riding on Makerfield would be a massive understatement.

Continue reading...

Source

Originally published at www.theguardian.com.

Related Articles

CD
Metral Newsroom

Metral covers global markets, stocks, crypto and the economy — desk research and data-driven analysis. Tip our newsroom: [email protected]

Email the newsroom →
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Data may be delayed up to 15 minutes. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Consult a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.