Why the Makerfield by-election could bring down Starmer
The argument that the Makerfield by-election could "bring down" Prime Minister Keir Starmer is less about the seat itself and more about what it could trigger inside the governing Labour Party. Why this by-election matters The by-election in Makerfield was created after Labour MP Josh Simons resigned, allowing Andy Burnham to seek a return to Parliament. Under Labour rules, Burnham needs to be an MP if he wants to challenge for the party leadership. Many commentators therefore see the contest as a de facto referendum on Starmer's leadership rather than an ordinary by-election.
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