[mattomac]

I thought I would set this up as it’s across three posts at the moment.

If people think it’s premature then so be it but if Burnham is defeated then it seems Wes will challenge regardless

Rumours that Starmer will look to a reasonable timetable for departure which probably would free a couple of candidates up. In any election I will not be voting for Streeting or Burnham but I do have a preference.

[Abernathy]

If Burnham doesn’t win Makerfield his political career is surely at an end. It would mark the third time that he has tried, and failed, to become leader of the Labour Party/Prime Minister.

The (quite) interesting question is whether he actually is obliged to resign as mayor in order to contest the by-election. There is a view that he would only be obliged to resign the mayoralty if he wins and is elected to parliament, so if he fails, he’ll be able to continue with the mayoralty. I’m not sure how true this is.