Is there an exit poll for the Makerfield by-election?

No official exit poll was commissioned for this by-election. The final result will be known once the official count is completed early Friday morning.

Why was the Makerfield by-election called?

The election was triggered by the resignation of Labour MP Josh Simons in May, which allowed Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to stand for the seat.

When will the Makerfield by-election results be announced?

Counting began shortly after polls closed at 10pm on Thursday, with the final declaration expected in the early hours of Friday morning.

Politics

Polls close in Makerfield by-election as counting gets underway with Burnham the heavy favourite

No exit poll has been conducted, but the final Opinium poll showed Labour on 46% and Reform on 41%. Bookmakers have Burnham as odds-on favourite, with the result expected in the early hours of Friday.

Tom Ainsworth

19 June 20262 min read

Polls Close in Makerfield By-Election as Burnham Seeks Westminster Return — PA Media

The polls are now closed and counting is underway in the Makerfield by-election, with the result expected in the early hours of Friday morning.

Around 70,000 people in the Wigan constituency had the opportunity to vote on Thursday (June 18) in a contest that has been largely a two-horse race between Labour's Andy Burnham and Reform's Rob Kenyon.

No exit poll has been conducted for the by-election. However, the final Opinium poll of 543 local residents, carried out between June 3 and 11, showed Labour on 46% and Reform on 41%, with Restore Britain on 7%, the Conservatives on 3%, the Greens on 2% and the Lib Dems on 1%.

As of 9.30pm on Thursday, bookmakers had Burnham as the heavy favourite: William Hill had Labour at 1/12 and Reform at 6/1, Betfred had Labour at 1/9 and Reform at 8/1, and Ladbrokes had Labour at 1/10 and Reform at 7/1.

Why does this by-election matter?

The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Labour MP Josh Simons on May 14, who confirmed he stood down to make a pathway for Burnham to run for Parliament. Burnham is expected to launch a leadership challenge against Sir Keir Starmer if elected.

Kenyon's campaign has faced backlash during the contest over a series of old social media posts.

A total of 14 candidates appeared on the ballot, with Jake Austin (Liberal Democrats), Count Binface (Count Binface Party), Michael Winstanley (Conservative), Rebecca Shepherd (Restore Britain), Sarah Wakefield (Green Party), and eight others also standing.

We will bring you the result as soon as it is declared.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there an exit poll for the Makerfield by-election?: No official exit poll was commissioned for this by-election. The final result will be known once the official count is completed early Friday morning.
Why was the Makerfield by-election called?: The election was triggered by the resignation of Labour MP Josh Simons in May, which allowed Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to stand for the seat.
When will the Makerfield by-election results be announced?: Counting began shortly after polls closed at 10pm on Thursday, with the final declaration expected in the early hours of Friday morning.