Burnham could beat Farage in a general election, new poll suggests Greater Manchester mayor beats Reform leader in head-to-head polls by 14 percentage points, according to pollsters The Independent UK · May 19
Andy Burnham confirmed as Labour’s candidate in Makerfield by-election Andy Burnham will be Labour’s candidate in the Makerfield by-election, the party has announced The National (Scotland) · May 19
Reform candidate in Scottish by-election blasted over 'satanic trash' comment REFORM UK’s candidate in a forthcoming Scottish by-election has been condemned over comments in which she described actors as “satanic… The National (Scotland) · May 19
Tuesday briefing: After an historic shift in power, where might Plaid Cymru go next? In today’s newsletter: Labour has been decimated, Reform has taken up the official opposition, and the Senedd has expanded massively – taking the country’s new leadership into uncharted waters The Guardian - UK · May 19
After the painful ruse of Starmerism, the left should be cautious about Andy Burnham With the Greens now a viable alternative, a Labour leader will not win power again without the progressive vote. But they will need to earn it, says Guardian columnist Owen Jones The Guardian - UK · May 19
Farage accounts ‘not consistent’ with claim he paid for £1.4 million house with I’m A Celeb fee Political opponents of the Reform UK leader have called for ‘transparency’, accusing him of ‘dodging scrutiny’ over a £5 million from Thai-based billionaire Christopher Harborne The Independent UK · May 18
Makerfield byelection is about more than Andy Burnham If most popular Labour politician cannot win this seat then party’s electoral problems run deeper than Keir Starmer The Guardian - UK · May 18
Farage claim he bought £1.4m house with I’m a Celebrity fee under scrutiny Accounts for Reform UK leader’s media company suggest money was not withdrawn at time of property purchase The Guardian - UK · May 18
Greens split over how hard to challenge Burnham in Makerfield byelection Some in party fear all-out campaign could boost Reform’s chances but others say it is not Greens’ job to help Labour The Guardian - UK · May 18
Downing Street accused of plot to derail Andy Burnham’s by-election hopes Exclusive: Labour MPs are being briefed that Burnham could bring back Corbyn amid claims of a dirty tricks campaign to stop the Greater Manchester mayor The Independent UK · May 18
Starmer’s message to voters in Makerfield: vote Labour because you hate me The only useful purpose Keir can play in helping Andy Burnham get elected is to be the focus of everything that voters dislike about Labour The Guardian - UK · May 18
What to know about the political chaos engulfing the UK's Labour Party and efforts to unseat Starmer Beleaguered British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is trying to return to the business of running government The Independent UK · May 18
A new Ireland is an alternative to a Reform-led UK – Stormont Opposition Matthew O’Toole said a Reform Government will have a ‘seismic consequence’ for the people of Northern Ireland. Evening Standard · May 18
It’s byelection bingo! Get ready for the Brexit arguments you heard 10 years ago, only louder Makerfield will be a test of what Labour would have to look like to beat Reform – so prepare yourself for regrets, broken promises and baffling assertions about ‘red wall’ voters, writes Zoe Williams The Guardian - UK · May 18
The Independent UK · May 18 Starmer: I’ll back Labour Makerfield by-election choice 100% – whoever they are The Prime Minister said he would support the contender ‘whoever they are’ to see off the threat from Nigel Farage’s Reform UK
Evening Standard · May 18 Calls for Southbank chairman to quit over 'divisive' social media posts Misan Harriman has caused controversy for posts which have been criticised by Jewish organisations and senior political figures
The Independent UK · May 18 Voices: Starmer, Burnham, Streeting or Rayner? Tell us who should lead Labour into the next general election POLL: With Labour descending into fresh infighting over Brexit, leadership manoeuvring and fears of a growing threat from Nigel Farage and Reform UK, our latest poll asks readers who they believe should shape the party’s future
The Guardian - UK · May 18 The Green Party is debating how to be radical and popular. There is a strategy that can do both If Zack Polanski can find the right balance – think policies like price controls to manage the cost of living – then he will have found a uniting mission, says political writer and podcaster Joe Todd
The Independent UK · May 18 ‘Do deal with Reform to beat Burnham in by-election’, Jacob Rees-Mogg tells Tories IN FULL
The Independent UK · May 18 Tories should make pact with Reform in bid to defeat Burnham in by-election, Jacob Rees-Mogg suggests Former Tory cabinet minister says the two parties should ‘work together in the national interest’ – but Kemi Badenoch has ruled out the move
The Guardian - UK · May 18 The result of normalising Reform’s ideas? Neighbour is turned against neighbour ‘Concern’ about immigration has now morphed into policing how ethnic minorities exist in our communities, says Guardian columnist Nesrine Malik
Evening Standard · May 17 Starmer’s Government returns to Westminster amid leadership rivals’ Brexit row Reform UK, which is the second placed party in Makerfield, plans to make hay out of Mr Burnham’s historic support for rejoining the EU.
The Guardian - UK · May 17 Andy Burnham faces perilous race to win Makerfield byelection, allies say Reform, which won more than 50% of the local election vote, is likely to focus heavily on immigration and Brexit
The Independent UK · May 17 Wes Streeting accused of restarting ‘Brexit wars’ in Labour leadership row Lisa Nandy criticises ‘odd’ call to rejoin EU – and says Starmer faces ‘personal decision’ on whether to stay and fight
The Independent UK · May 17 Ireland ‘needs to avoid type of political turmoil impacting UK’ Micheal Martin is the longest serving leader of the party since Eamon De Valera