[Youngian]

Is Farage up for the fight to improve on reasonably respectable seconds places? Doesn't look like it.

[Andy McDandy]

He's got his out now - "I tried but Restore split the vote".

[Oboogie]

He's got his out now - "I tried but Restore split the vote".

Except, as Labour got 55%, Restore were as irrelevant as the Tories, LibDems and Greens.

[mattomac]

I actually think that was a depressingly ok performance by Reform. They won’t always have candidates with the baggage this one did, and even he might have got away with it in a general election. Are we sure Rupert Lowe is going to run everywhere in a general election?

I know it’s one of their best seats but 34.5% is still a lot.

3k more than he got at the last election that ironically is roughly where the Tories had been since about 2017 prior to 2024.

Pretty much average vote for a second place candidate in Makerfield.

[Rosvanian]

Is Farage up for the fight to improve on reasonably respectable seconds places? Doesn't look like it.

I think Farage looks wrecked. He's been at this for decades, day in, day out. As much as I despise the man, his dedication to his cause is unquestionable.

[satnav]

From what I've seen on social media Labour, Reform and Restore pulled out all the stops in the by-election with all three parties pulling in thousands of activists into the constituency. Reform were clearly boosted by many of the newly elected councillors travelling to Makerfield to campaign.

Clearly come a general election Reform will not be able to flood hundreds of seats with large groups of activists. The challenge for Burnham will be if he can boost party membership umbers so that Labour can match Reform on the doorstep.
Equally will Reform be able to retain all their members if Restore continue to out flank them on the right?

[kreuzberger]

That logic suggests that Farage will need to tack hard to the right while Labour should and must do nothing of the sort.

[kreuzberger]

Is Farage up for the fight to improve on reasonably respectable seconds places? Doesn't look like it.

I think Farage looks wrecked. He's been at this for decades, day in, day out. As much as I despise the man, his dedication to his cause is unquestionable.

You could say the same for whoever it is who pisses on the toilet seat at the Sports Direct distribution centre. It's the only living he has.