𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

The Government has moved the writ for the forthcoming crunch by-election, which could decide the fate of Keir Starmer’s premiership. Taking to his feet in the Commons this afternoon, Chief Whip Jonathan Reynolds formally pressed for the by-election to go ahead, with a surprising date.

While Mr Reynolds did not specify the date, the Express understands it will be in exactly one month’s time, on February 26th. This date will raise eyebrows in Westminster, as many had presumed that the government would call the by-election to coincide with the 2026 local elections in May. The early date suggests Labour believes a shorter campaign will help disadvantage their opponents in the Greens and Reform UK, as rival parties will have less time to get their campaigns off the ground.

Mr Reynolds tolds MPs: “I beg to move that Mr Speaker do issue his warrant to the clerk of the crown, to make out a new writ for the electing of a member of this present parliament, for the borough constituency of Gorton and Denton, in the room of Andrew John Gwynne.

“Who since his election for the said borough constituency has been appointed to the office of Stewart and Bailiff of HM Manor of Northstead in the county of York.”

Speaker Lindsay Hoyle subsequently approved the writ, meaning the by-election must now be held within 21 to 27 working days, providing flexibility to ensure it is held on a Thursday as is traditional with British elections.

The by-election has become one of the most high-profile in recent British political history, thanks to the chaos surrounding Andy Burnham’s attempt to put himself forward as Labour’s candidate.

In an emergency meeting of the Labour Party’s ruling executive committee yesterday, the party barred the Manchester Metro Mayor from standing.

Officially the party claimed this was due to fears that the subsequent by-election for Mr Burnham’s mayoral role would suck up too much party funds and time.

However it’s widely believed Sir Keir Starmer personally led efforts to block his return to Westminster over fears he already has the right number of Labour MP supporters to launch a leadership coup.

Mr Burnham’s ban on standing as Labour candidate has given a huge boost to Reform UK and the Green Party, who both believe they now stand a chance of taking the constituency.

Writing for the Express yesterday, Reform chairman Dr David Bull said: “Labour’s decision to block Mr Burnham “will hasten [the Prime Minister’s] demise.”

“Yesterday’s decision by the Starmer-friendly NEC was yet further proof that this is a Prime Minister who is running out of time, running out of allies and running scared of the electorate.”

He vowed that Reform UK will “throw everything” at the by-election, and called on voters to “send this hopeless, directionless self-serving government packing.”

The by-election was sparked by the resignation for former MP Andrew Gwynne on health grounds.