Keir Starmer is on the ropes, Wes Streeting has walked out, and Andy Burnham is making his play for the crown. This week on HuffPost UK's Commons People, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson break down the massive stakes of the Makerfield by-election. With Reform UK surging and Labour HQ described as "a morgue on a spaceship hurtling towards destruction," can the King of the North secure his ticket back to Westminster, or is the party heading for a total smash-up?

Timecodes

00:00 – Introduction.

00:35 – Westminster recap: how did we get here and why does the by-election matter?

01:30 – Why did Wes Streeting resign as Health Secretary (and what's his next move)?

03:40 – When will the Makerfield by-election take place?

04:00 – Who is Andy Burnham and what is his political background?

07:46 – How is Reform UK threatening Labour in the local wards?

08:40 – Why has the Brexit debate returned to haunt Andy Burnham?

09:21 – What do the campaign videos reveal about Andy Burnham and Robert Kenyon?

12:40 – Why did Andy Burnham fail in his previous leadership bids?

15:50 – Who is Reform UK candidate Robert Kenyon?

16:40 – What did Robert Kenyon's deleted social media history reveal?

19:40 – How did Hannah Spencer influence the focus on trade candidates?

21:44 – What will happen if Andy Burnham wins the by-election?

24:17 – Who are the other potential contenders to replace Keir Starmer?

26:32 – What is the nightmare scenario for Labour if Andy Burnham loses?

27:55 – How is Labour feeling while we wait for the by-election?

32:26 – Bluffer's Guide and end.

You can follow us at @commons.people on Instagram and TikTok. This is a HuffPost UK podcast. Music provided by Epidemic Sounds and Paula Barker clip sourced from BBC via @treesey/X. Producer: Dayna McAlpine

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