I won’t need to remind folk who regularly follow my ranting and ramblings on the Internet that I am a political nerd who is disillusioned with the political parties in the UK, but who hopes against hope that soon a group of politicians will arise that can work with the Almighty to help sort out my beloved country.

Labour MP Josh Simons resigned May 14 so, it is said, that Andy Burnham can return to his home, fight to re-enter Parliament. Burnham was Greater Manchester Mayor, not an MP, but needed a Commons seat to challenge Keir Starmer for Labour leadership. Makerfield is a UK Parliament constituency in Greater Manchester, covering the towns of Ashton-in-Makerfield, Hindley, and other areas on the western edge of Wigan. It’s made up of 8 wards lying wholly inside the Wigan metropolitan borough. Makerfield has been Labour since 1983, Labour since 1906 in predecessor seats. But Reform UK came 2nd in 2024 with 31.8%, just 5,399 votes behind. In May 2026 locals, Reform won all 8 wards in Makerfield with ∼50% vs Labour 27%. It has been noted it has a high white British working-class population, likely concerned about immigration and in the past voting for Brexit (thus explaining the Reform interest) and more aligned to Old rather than New Labour. It has been said this town that once dug for coal now digs for meaning (having had to find new occupations to replace the old ones). After much speculating on outcome, and intensive campaigning from all sides and much reporting, it did vote in Burnham on Thursday 18^th June 2026, and did so by a decisive majority and with a surprisingly high voter turnout. Now Burnham has won, it is said he could and likely will launch his leadership challenge (and with Starmer’s resignation that is what has happened).  Yet Starmer still congratulated him on winning, observing: “Voters chose Labour’s campaign of hope and optimism over division and hate”.

Last Thursday’s Makerfield by-election was particularly interesting and significant as far as by-elections go, not least because of its demographic and the unusual reason for holding the election, i.e., to make way for a challenge to the leadership of the Labour Party. Even more interesting is that it was a way to measure the political mood of the nation, especially given the Left versus Right (not that I like that term) divide now being seen, which I have blogged about. The two other parties of particular interest were Reform and Restore. Reform may feel disappointed that they were far behind Labour, in second place, even though far ahead of Restore in third place, with Conservative far behind them in fourth place. We face the prospect of three parties of the so-called Right – Reform, Restore and Conservative, now looking to challenge Labour for future political power, with LibDems and Greens, the two parties on the so-called Left looking to do so. We live, as they say, in interesting days.

As I often point out, my record as a political pundit is poor, although I would like to think that does not apply to my record as a bemused and concerned citizen. The prospect of the new Labour Leader, calling a General Election this year remains low (after all Labour have a sizable parliamentary majority and now new hope) but as for Burnham being next Prime Minister, he is now red-hot favourite. Interestingly, the bookies have Reform down for getting most seats at the next General Election, followed by Labour, Conservative, Green, Restore and LibDems. But let me turn to Labour, which will soon be led by, now MP, Andy Burnham.

I could do a deep dive in sizing up Burnham, especially having done a fair amount of reading and watching those giving their opinion – but I won’t – I need to get back to Amos – who is interestingly the Hebrew prophet known for proclaiming justice to the poor. But I am highly suspicious of the fellow. While it is hard to imagine him as being as bad as Starmer, I still think he is/will be pretty bad. Dare I say, the Makerfield electorate who returned their own Northern lad, one of them hero (after all he is seen as having done at least a half decent job as mayor of Manchester) will be in for a shock with this new chameleon, globalist Prime Minister leading a much discredited Labour Party and soon running the country. The feud between Nigel Farage (Reform) and Rupert Lowe (Restore) looks to continue and who will eventually come out on top being an interesting question and not to forget the prospect of a resurgent Conservative Party, no doubt delighted at winning Aberdeen on the same day that Labour won the Makerfield by-election. But as I keep saying: we shouldn’t be politically uninvolved as politics is one way we can help the community, but let us hope in God, who unlike politicians does deliver on his promises, who imposes and deposes leaders.