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  "path": "/politics/andy-burnham-nigel-farage-rupert-lowe-makerfield-by-election",
  "publishedAt": "2026-06-11T19:11:28.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "Richard Tice declares Keir Starmer's 'credibility is gone' after John Healey resignation",
    "Labour refuses to reveal cost of '25,766-in, 606-out deal' after secretly extending accord",
    "Kemi Badenoch must work with Nigel Farage to stop Labour, most senior Tory MP tells GB News",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nAndy Burnham has been handed a major Makerfield by-election boost after Restore Britain splintered the right-wing vote, new polling has revealed.\n\nThe Mayor of Greater Manchester is currently polling at 35 per cent, down eight percentage points from previous polling.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nNigel Farage's party has fallen behind its previous 40 per cent, dropping down to 24 per cent.\n\nMeanwhile, Restore Britain continues to gain ground, at 13 per cent – almost doubling its support, according to leaked Labour data shared with the i Paper.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe new data suggests that Rupert Lowe's party is splitting the right-wing vote in the Greater Manchester constituency, widening the gap between Mr Burnham and Reform's Robert Kenyon in what was previously described as \"two horse race\".\n\nHowever, Reform sources have questioned the survey's authenticity into question, describing it as \"disinformation\" spread by Labour and its supporters.\n\nA Reform spokesman said: \"This 'data' from iNews comes without transparency, has no published tables and is complete hearsay. Their reporting is an attempt to directly influence the election.\"\n\nThe upcoming by-election will take place next Thursday.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nMr Burnham has been accused of using his Makerfield candidacy as a \"stepping stone\" to Westminster amid his widely touted plans to challenge Sir Keir Starmer's leadership if he were to win.\n\nMr Lowe, who represents the constituency of Great Yarmouth, established Restore Britain back in February after being ousted from Reform UK.\n\nSince its founding, it has received the backing of individuals, including tech billionaire Elon Musk.\n\nAfter recent polling suggested Restore was winning over around one-in-four 2024 Reform UK voters, Mr Lowe told the Telegraph the new data mirrored \"what we're seeing on the ground\".\n\n### POLITICS LATEST:\n\n\n\n\n  * Richard Tice declares Keir Starmer's 'credibility is gone' after John Healey resignation\n  * Labour refuses to reveal cost of '25,766-in, 606-out deal' after secretly extending accord\n  * Kemi Badenoch must work with Nigel Farage to stop Labour, most senior Tory MP tells GB News\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nHe added: \"On the split, that framing assumes Restore Britain supporters would otherwise back Reform. They wouldn’t. We’re drawing from people who’ve given up on every party on offer. That’s not a split, that’s a new coalition.\"\n\nLater this evening, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch shut down rumours that she was willing to enter a coalition with Mr Farage's party.\n\nA previous report claimed that the Tories would settle a pact with Reform to prevent the formation of another left-wing Government.\n\nHowever, responding this afternoon, the Tory leader said: \"This is b******t. What I actually said is we 'cannot have another left-wing Government.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\"But I'm afraid that Reform has quite a lot of left-wing ideas. They want more benefits. They want nationalisation'.\n\n\"I then said on 'deals, non-aggression pacts and so on... I'm just saying no. It's just no, no, no, no, no, no.'\"\n\nPolling guru Professor Sir John Curtice has also declared that Restore Britain was making electoral success \"much more difficult\" for Mr Farage's party.\n\nMore widely, he said that Makerfield was \"on an absolute knife-edge\" and claimed that Restore Britain's \"intervention\" was \"definitely good news\" for Mr Burnham.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "Andy Burnham handed major Makerfield by-election boost as Restore appears to splinter right-wing vote in latest polling"
}