It’s byelection bingo! Get ready for the Brexit arguments you heard 10 years ago, only louder | Zoe Williams
The upcoming byelection in Makerfield is shaping up to be a significant test for the Labour party as it prepares for future leadership challenges. Key figures within the party are revisiting past Brexit arguments, indicating a potential shift in their stance on the issue. As Labour grapples with its identity and relationship with Europe, the party faces pressure to unify and address the concerns of its constituents.
- ▪The byelection in Makerfield is seen as a popularity contest for Andy Burnham and a precursor to a Labour leadership challenge.
- ▪Keir Starmer has made statements acknowledging the negative impacts of Brexit, which is a departure from previous party rhetoric.
- ▪Labour backbencher Jonathan Hinder expressed skepticism about the public's interest in reigniting the Brexit debate.
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| Original publisher | The Guardian — Politics |
| Canonical URL | https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/may/18/byelection-bingo-brexit-argument-makerfield-labour-reform |
| Publication time | Mon, 18 May 2026 15:26:37 GMT |
| Retrieval time | 2026-05-18T15:44:56.635Z |
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Photograph: pjrimages/Getty Images/iStockphotoView image in fullscreen Photograph: pjrimages/Getty Images/iStockphotoOpinionLabour party leadershipIt’s byelection bingo! Get ready for the Brexit arguments you heard 10 years ago, only louder Zoe WilliamsMakerfield will be a test of what Labour would have to look like to beat Reform – so prepare yourself for regrets, broken promises and baffling assertions about ‘red wall’ votersMon 18 May 2026 11.26 EDTLast modified on Mon 18 May 2026 11.42 EDTShareIt is a gruesome shock and yet was entirely predictable: we stand on the brink of a byelection that is three things at once.
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