Makerfield or bust: Burnham goes for broke

Makerfield or bust: Burnham goes for broke

From Political Fix by Financial Times

June 12, 2026 · 45 min

About this episode

The episode discusses the upcoming Makerfield by-election and its potential implications for British politics.

With a week to go until Makerfield heads to the polls in what may turn out to be the most consequential by-election in British history, host Lucy Fisher, northern England correspondent Jen Williams and deputy political editor Jim Pickard are on the ground hearing from voters in the seat. Polls and bookmakers confidently predict an Andy Burnham victory but they discuss whether that narrative is too neat and what issues are really shaping voters’ choices. The result could determine not just who represents Makerfield, but also the future of the country if Burnham wins and successfully challenges Sir Keir Starmer for the premiership. Plus, they weigh up the shock resignation of defence secretary John Healey who has blasted Starmer’s government for being “unwilling” to commit sufficient resources to protecting the country. Follow: Lucy @LOS_Fisher or @ lucyfisher.ft.com ; Jen @JenWilliams_FT or @jenwilliamsft.bskyb.social; Jim on @PickardJE or @pickardje.bskyb.social Want more?   John Healey: the ex-trade unionist who privately battled the Treasury Andy Burnham rules out cash for Waspi women after Labour backlash ‘Pure racism’: East Belfast reels from riots led by masked young…

People in this episode

Host: Lucy Fisher

Guests: Jen Williams, Jim Pickard

Topics covered

  • by-election
  • British politics
  • voter sentiment
  • Andy Burnham
  • Keir Starmer
  • defense policy

Keywords

  • Makerfield
  • by-election
  • Andy Burnham
  • Keir Starmer
  • John Healey
  • voters
  • polls

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Financial Times

Places: Makerfield, northern England

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