𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Reform UK has announced its candidate to take on Andy Burnham in the Makerfield by-election. Local plumber Robert Kenyon will stand for Nigel Farage’s party in the crunch ballot.

The Greater Manchester Mayor is using the high-stakes contest in a bid to return to Westminster to challenge Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership. Mr Farage said: “This by-election contest is now a David versus Goliath battle.

“This is the ‘The Plucky Plumber’ taking on ‘Open Borders Burnham.’ Only Reform UK can beat Labour in this by-election.”

Mr Kenyon stood in the seat for Reform at the 2024 general election and came second with 32% of the vote.

He was born in Makerfield where he is self-employed as a local plumber.

He has served as an army reservist and previously worked for the NHS in Lancashire as a specialist technician.

Mr Kenyon added: “Makerfield has never had a member of Parliament who was actually born in Makerfield.

“This will be a tough fight but I am going to give this contest my best shot.”

Mr Burnham has said a vote for him would be a vote to “change Labour”.

But the Prime Minister has insisted that he would not “walk away” from Downing Street.

If Sir Keir does not resign, Mr Burnham would need to secure the backing of 81 Labour MPs to mount a leadership challenge.