# The battle for Makerfield

An episode of [Coffee House Shots](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1101754136), 6 Jun 2026, 9:38.

Audio: https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/68359028e1abc4be6b032cd1/e/6a21b0c014e465e5ce69ffe0/media.mp3?tk=eyJ0ayI6ImRlZmF1bHQiLCJhZHMiOnRydWUsInNwb25zIjp0cnVlLCJzdGF0dXMiOiJwdWJsaWMifQ==&sig=snpcMM513oFZ_Cv8KJ7RNaSVIrZ3-CqzwhF3jkL7EZQ

James Heale is in Makerfield ahead of one of the most consequential by-elections of all time, where Andy Burnham is hoping to return to Westminster and stop Reform’s Robert Kenyon – the local plumber backed by Nigel Farage. On the ground, James hears from voters split between Labour and Reform, with some hoping Burnham can hold the line and others asking what he has really done for the area. He also sits down with Nigel Farage to discuss Reform’s chances, the party’s NHS policy, Rupert Lowe’s Restore Britain challenge, and why Farage thinks Burnham would be even worse than Starmer in No. 10. Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more. For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts. Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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