What could a Burnham win mean for the Tories?
The upcoming by-election in Makerfield is raising concerns for the Conservative Party, which finished third in the last general election. Many Conservative MPs are speculating that a win for Andy Burnham could lead to significant changes within the Labour Party and potentially prompt an early general election. The Tories are considering how to prepare for this possibility, including accelerating candidate selections and fundraising efforts.
- ▪The Conservatives finished third in Makerfield during the last general election.
- ▪If Andy Burnham wins, it could lead to a Labour leadership change and an early election.
- ▪Conservative MPs are discussing strategies to prepare for potential shifts in the political landscape.
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| Original publisher | ConservativeHome |
| Canonical URL | https://conservativehome.com/2026/05/22/what-could-a-burnham-win-mean-for-the-tories/ |
| Publication time | Fri, 22 May 2026 06:00:08 +0000 |
| Retrieval time | 2026-05-22T06:02:00.658Z |
| Last seen | 2026-05-22T06:02:00.658Z |
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Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
When it comes to Makerfield and the upcoming by-election, the Conservatives don’t get much of a mention. The party finished third there at the general election, but with 4,379 votes was quite a way behind Reform’s second place and Labour’s winning tally. The newly announced Conservative candidate Michael Winstanley seems like a decent fellow: former Mayor of Wigan, born locally, lived and worked in the area, and even contested the seat 29 years ago. But it is hard to see any one candidate establishing real Tory influence there. No, the Conservatives will not be pivotal in Makerfield. But the Tory Party is beginning to wonder about how Makerfield could prove pivotal for them.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at ConservativeHome.
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