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  "path": "/2026/06/19/makerfield-by-election-latest-votes-counted-historic-vote-28830746/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-06-19T01:22:53.000Z",
  "site": "https://metro.co.uk",
  "tags": [
    "News",
    "Politics",
    "Andy Burnham",
    "British Government",
    "Labour Party",
    "Nigel Farage",
    "Reform UK",
    "Sir Keir Starmer",
    "Wes Streeting",
    "Keir Starmer",
    "Manchester",
    "vote could be split by Restore Britain",
    "here",
    "Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source"
  ],
  "textContent": "The all-important vote could decide the future of Labour under Keir Starmer (Picture: Victoria Jones/Shutterstock)\n\nLabour and Reform are anxiously waiting for the result of the pivotal Makerfield by-election with counting is underway in the south Wigan constituency.\n\nAndy Burnham’s team are ‘quietly confident’ of victory and arrived at a Wigan venue called The Edge with a huge smile on his face.\n\nThe election result could be decisive for the future of Labour under Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer – with Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham predicted to launch a leadership big if he wins the seat.\n\nReform UK’s leader Nigel Farage threw everything it had at the by-election, with the right-wingers’ candidate Robert Kenyon hoping to cause a political upset.\n\nBut their vote could be split by Restore Britain, an ultra-nationalist political group with extreme views on immigration, which has gained traction in recent months, becoming a headache for Reform.\n\nWith results expected within the next few hours, you can keep updated and follow the latest about the Makerfield by-election with Metro’s live blog here.\n\n##  Everything is changing, all the time\n\nCut through political noise and understand how the Westminster chaos actually affects your life with Metro's politics newsletter Alright, Gov? Sign up here.\n\nComment now Comments \nAdd Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source\n",
  "title": "Makerfield by-election latest: Votes being counted in historic vote"
}