Andy Burnham is set to face Reform’s candidate Robert Kenyon in a special BBC debate before the Makerfield by-election this month.
The Greater Manchester mayor will participate in the live broadcast of Question Time on Thursday evening, where he will also be joined by his fellow candidates from the Lib Dems, the Conservatives and the Greens.
It is highly likely that Mr Burnham will challenge Sir Keir Starmer for the Labour leadership should he be elected on 18 June.
On Tuesday, Mr Burnham ruled out calling a snap election if he entered Downing Street, a spokesperson said in response to speculation that he was considering such a move to give him a stronger mandate.
Mr Burnham has promised a vote for him in Makerfield would be a vote to “change Labour”.
Mr Kenyon has faced criticism over previous online comments about various issues, including his position on abortion and Ukraine.
The Independent found that an account linked to Mr Kenyon wrote that women can’t “ref, drive or give directions” and declared: “I’m sexist, sorry but I am.”
He admitted making “crass comments” online, particularly in response to a sexually graphic post about TV presenter Carol Vorderman.
Burnham pledges swift social care system overhaul
Andy Burnham says he would begin to transform the crumbling social care system this year if he became prime minister, including looking at inheritance tax and care charges to help fund it.
In an interview with The Guardian, the Greater Manchester mayor said: “It is urgent, the need to fix social care, and I personally would look at all of the kind of implications of that in relation to inheritance tax and care charges and everything. I wouldn’t flinch from it.”
In recent years he has talked about replacing inheritance tax with a progressive “care levy” to fund a national care service.
He accused Westminster of “flinching away” from tackling difficult policy problems, saying politicians must be willing to take on “the weight of the system” that stands in the way of radical change.
Burnham first tried to change the social care system when he was Labour’s health secretary in 2009, when he planned a levy on estates to pay for universal social care.
He suggested bringing forward the Casey review, which is due to draw up proposals for change from 2028. He said he would like it published by the end of this year, focusing on measures that could be implemented quickly.
Inside the Brexit-voting Labour stronghold that could decide the next prime minister
Inside the Brexit-voting Labour stronghold that looks set to determine our next PM
Labour faces an almighty task to hold onto Makerfield, a seat which typifies its red wall heartlands. Is Andy Burnham the party’s only chance of stopping Reform in this former coal-mining area, which could send him to Downing Street? Dan Haygarth finds outJane Dalton4 June 2026 18:04
Will Burnham’s ‘reformed Blairite’ image work in Makerfield?
Political editor David Maddox says Andy Burnham needs Blair’s winning formula but must simultaneously prove to a sceptical Labour Party that he has left the Blair days behind:
Burnham positions himself as a reformed Blairite – but will that work in Makerfield?
Political editor David Maddox looks at the contradictory nature of Andy Burnham’s response to Tony BlairJane Dalton4 June 2026 17:52
Labour has not learnt lessons from Tories on changing leader, minister says
Labour has not learnt lessons from the Tories on “changing the leader at the top”, a minister has said, as he noted that “entitlement is not a qualification for leadership”.
The business secretary said: “I don’t think we’ve learnt the lessons of the Tory party in government, where every time there was a problem that was experienced with their government, there was only one solution, and that’s changing the leader at the top.
“There was never any acceptance in the Tory party at the time that the challenges that they had were related to a programme of government… and they always just felt that changing the person at the top would solve it.”
Mr Kyle expressed his “frustration” over his party’s failure to learn that lesson and criticised colleagues who “blame one person” and fail to “accept responsibility for our collective endeavour as a government”.
The Makerfield by-election candidates
Who are the Makerfield by-election candidates?
Polls suggest it will be a tight race between Labour candidate Andy Burnham and Reform UK’s Robert KenyonJane Dalton4 June 2026 17:37
How can I watch the Makerfield by-election debate?
Labour’s Andy Burnham and Reform UK’s Robert Kenyon are due to face on another in a special edition of BBC Question Time ahead of the Makerfield by-election.
They will be joined by other candidates from the Conservatives, the Lib Dems and the Greens.
The show starts at 10.40pm on BBC One, just after the 10 o’clock news, and it will also be available to watch on BBC iPlayer, from 9pm.
You can listen to the episode live from 9pm on the BBC Sounds app, or follow the coverage on the BBC News website/app.
Daniel Keane4 June 2026 17:22