The Guardian view on the Makerfield byelection: Andy Burnham is looking to beat Reform’s politics of anger | Editorial

Recent polling indicates Labour candidate Andy Burnham holds a lead over Reform UK ahead of the Makerfield by-election. Analysts suggest Burnham's personal popularity is currently preventing a Reform victory in a seat where the party otherwise leads in general election projections.

Summary based on Left Foot Forward article

Economic coverage

Pro-Labour: 8

Centrist: 13

Pro-Market: 3

Anti-establishment

6 articles

Pro-establishment

4 articles

24 outlets · 54 articles · first seen 12 Jun 2026, 17:24 · last updated 22 Jun 2026, 18:44

The reporting contrasts a focus on Burnham’s individual electoral appeal as a progressive leader against a strategic analysis of right-wing vote splitting.

Coverage by outlet

Best free read

Makerfield by-election results in full: How many votes for each candidate as Andy Burnham secures victory

London Evening Standard

BBC NewsBBCPublic broadcaster

Burnham says his win in Makerfield by-election could be turning pointopinion
19 Jun 2026, 04:04similarity 79%

Belfast TelegraphIndependent News & Media (Mediahuis)

From Drogheda roots to Makerfield win: How Andy Burnham became the ‘King of the North’press release

Andy Burnham says Makerfield win can be ‘turning point’ for British politicspress release

By David Hughes and Eleanor Barlow, Press Association19 Jun 2026, 03:03similarity 82%

Andy Burnham wins Makerfield by-election to set up challenge to Keir Starmeropinion

By David Hughes and Eleanor Barlow, Press Association19 Jun 2026, 02:10similarity 76%

Burnham should be heard ‘at top of politics’ if he wins Makerfield, says Nandyinvestigative

By David Hughes and Eleanor Barlow, Press Association19 Jun 2026, 00:23similarity 74%

Bolton News

Andy Burnham sworn in as Makerfield MP after landslide by-election winopinion
grace.williams@newsquest.co.uk | Grace Williams22 Jun 2026, 17:38similarity 82%
What happens if Andy Burnham wins the Makerfield by-election tomorrow?press release
grace.williams@newsquest.co.uk | Grace Williams17 Jun 2026, 09:08similarity 72%

Doncaster Free Press

Doncaster MP backs Andy Burnham in Makerfield by-electionopinion
Darren Burke16 Jun 2026, 09:23similarity 69%

Guido FawkesIndependent

WATCH: Burnham Sworn in as Labour MP for Makerfieldopinion
Adam Cherry22 Jun 2026, 13:43similarity 82%
Andy Burnham Wins the Makerfield By-Electionopinion
Max Young19 Jun 2026, 02:09similarity 87%

Irish NewsIndependent

Andy Burnham says Makerfield win can be ‘turning point’ for British politicspress release
David Hughes and Eleanor Barlow, Press Association19 Jun 2026, 03:03similarity 80%
Andy Burnham wins Makerfield by-election to set up challenge to Keir Starmeropinion
David Hughes and Eleanor Barlow, Press Association19 Jun 2026, 02:10similarity 81%
Burnham should be heard ‘at top of politics’ if he wins Makerfield, says Nandyinvestigative
David Hughes and Eleanor Barlow, Press Association19 Jun 2026, 00:23similarity 77%

Isle of Wight County Press

Andy Burnham wins Makerfield by-election and issues 'final' warning to Labourpress release
matthew.evans@newsquest.co.uk | Matthew Evans19 Jun 2026, 07:22similarity 88%

JOE.co.uk

Results in full as Andy Burnham wins Makerfield by-electionopinion
Harry Warner19 Jun 2026, 06:38similarity 81%

LabourListIndependent

BREAKING: Andy Burnham elected MP for Makerfield with over 54 per cent of the voteopinion
Daniel Green19 Jun 2026, 02:18similarity 87%

Left Foot ForwardIndependent

Andy Burnham outlines his vision for Britain after Makerfield win: Here are 4 key takeaways from his rallyopinion
Basit Mahmood19 Jun 2026, 12:04similarity 79%
Andy Burnham wins Makerfield by-election as Reform suffers ‘worst night since General Election’press release
Basit Mahmood19 Jun 2026, 08:47similarity 87%
Two new Makerfield polls put Andy Burnham ahead of Reformpress release
Olivia Barber15 Jun 2026, 08:45similarity 86%

Leigh Journal

Makerfield by-election - the results in full as Andy Burnham storms to victoryopinion
jack.lyons@newsquest.co.uk | Jack Lyons19 Jun 2026, 03:41similarity 86%
Andy Burnham wins Makerfield by-electionopinion
jack.lyons@newsquest.co.uk | Jack Lyons19 Jun 2026, 02:25similarity 89%

London Evening Standard

Makerfield by-election results in full: How many votes for each candidate as Andy Burnham secures victoryopinion
Niva Yadav19 Jun 2026, 08:31similarity 86%
Andy Burnham says Makerfield win can be ‘turning point’ for British politicspress release
David Hughes19 Jun 2026, 07:03similarity 84%
Makerfield by-election: Andy Burnham marches on No10 after huge win - what does it mean for London?press release
Nicholas Cecil19 Jun 2026, 05:06similarity 74%
Andy Burnham wins Makerfield by-election to set up challenge to Keir Starmeropinion
David Hughes19 Jun 2026, 02:10similarity 78%
Makerfield by-election LIVE: Voting begins as Andy Burnham seeks Westminster return to challenge Keir Starmeropinion
Niva Yadav18 Jun 2026, 06:06similarity 74%
Makerfield by-election: Could Andy Burnham be Labour's lucky general as he marches on No10?press release
Nicholas Cecil18 Jun 2026, 05:20similarity 76%
If Andy Burnham wins Makerfield by-election - what happens next?press release
Rachael Burford17 Jun 2026, 18:12similarity 81%

Nation.CymruMembershipMember-funded

Andy Burnham’s victory in Makerfield marks a political crossroadsinvestigative
Mark Mansfield19 Jun 2026, 07:10similarity 85%
Andy Burnham’s Makerfield by-election victory speechopinion
Stephen Price19 Jun 2026, 05:05similarity 80%
Andy Burnham wins Makerfield by-election to set up challenge to Keir Starmeropinion
Stephen Price19 Jun 2026, 04:48similarity 83%

Novara MediaMembershipMember-funded

Andy Burnham Crushes Reform in Makerfieldinvestigative
Clare Hymer19 Jun 2026, 06:37similarity 77%

Politics.co.uk

Andy Burnham storms to victory in Makerfield by-electionpress release
Josh Self19 Jun 2026, 06:01similarity 88%

Socialist Worker-UK

Makerfield by-election: Andy Burnham wins by running against Starmeropinion
TTE19 Jun 2026, 06:40similarity 90%

The Conversation UKMembershipMember-funded

Andy Burnham needed a big win. The Makerfield result means Labour might have reason to hopeinvestigative
Martin Farr, Senior Lecturer in Contemporary British History, Newcastle University19 Jun 2026, 16:03similarity 77%

The GuardianGuardian Trust

What next for Andy Burnham? Five key questions after Makerfield winpress release
Libby Brooks19 Jun 2026, 08:11similarity 76%
Andy Burnham wins huge majority in Makerfield byelection, paving way for Starmer leadership challengeopinion
Josh Halliday North of England editor19 Jun 2026, 05:10similarity 82%
Polls close in historic Makerfield byelection that could see Andy Burnham elected and pave way for end of Starmer – UK politics liveopinion
Andrew Sparrow18 Jun 2026, 21:09similarity 72%

The IndependentEvgeny Lebedev

In The Room | Makerfield by-election: Has Andy Burnham united the left?press release
Helen MacNamara and Cleo Watson19 Jun 2026, 17:38similarity 77%
Makerfield by-election – in numbers: How Andy Burnham stormed to victory in the decisive contestopinion
Albert Toth19 Jun 2026, 08:32similarity 88%
Andy Burnham’s speech in full after landslide victory in Makerfield by-electionopinion
PA Reporters19 Jun 2026, 07:26similarity 79%
Watch: Andy Burnham calls for political change after Makerfield by-election victoryopinion
Mohammad Dawood19 Jun 2026, 06:31similarity 84%
Makerfield by-election result live: Burnham faces anxious wait over securing path back to Westminsterpress release
Athena Stavrou,Kate Devlin,Jane Dalton and Nicole Wootton-Cane18 Jun 2026, 19:44similarity 80%

The ScotsmanNational World

Andy Burnham wins Makerfield by-election to set up challenge to Keir Starmeropinion
David Hughes and Eleanor Barlow19 Jun 2026, 02:14similarity 73%

The iNational World

Here’s what happens if Burnham loses Makerfieldopinion
Eleanor Langford18 Jun 2026, 05:00similarity 72%

Yorkshire PostNational World

'Voted for hope' - Andy Burnham’s victory speech in full after Makerfield by-election winpress release
Hannah Richardson19 Jun 2026, 08:40similarity 75%
Andy Burnham wins Makerfield by-election and hails 'turning point' in British politicsopinion
David Hughes and Press Association Political Editor19 Jun 2026, 05:36similarity 92%

Financial TimesSubscriptionpaywall

How Andy Burnham won Makerfieldinvestigative
19 Jun 2026, 18:29similarity 88%

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The Guardian view on the Makerfield byelection: Andy Burnham is looking to beat Reform’s politics of anger | Editorial

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