Keir Starmer is on the ropes, Wes Streeting has walked out, and Andy Burnham is making his play for the crown. This week on HuffPost UK's Commons People, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson break down the massive stakes of the Makerfield by-election. With Reform UK surging and Labour HQ described as "a morgue on a spaceship hurtling towards destruction," can the King of the North secure his ticket back to Westminster, or is the party heading for a total smash-up?

Timecodes

00:00 – Introduction.

00:35 – Westminster recap: how did we get here and why does the by-election matter?

01:30 – Why did Wes Streeting resign as Health Secretary (and what's his next move)?

03:40 – When will the Makerfield by-election take place?

04:00 – Who is Andy Burnham and what is his political background?

07:46 – How is Reform UK threatening Labour in the local wards?

08:40 – Why has the Brexit debate returned to haunt Andy Burnham?

09:21 – What do the campaign videos reveal about Andy Burnham and Robert Kenyon?

12:40 – Why did Andy Burnham fail in his previous leadership bids?

15:50 – Who is Reform UK candidate Robert Kenyon?

16:40 – What did Robert Kenyon's deleted social media history reveal?

19:40 – How did Hannah Spencer influence the focus on trade candidates?

21:44 – What will happen if Andy Burnham wins the by-election?

24:17 – Who are the other potential contenders to replace Keir Starmer?

26:32 – What is the nightmare scenario for Labour if Andy Burnham loses?

27:55 – How is Labour feeling while we wait for the by-election?

32:26 – Bluffer's Guide and end.

You can follow us at @commons.people on Instagram and TikTok. This is a HuffPost UK podcast. Music provided by Epidemic Sounds and Paula Barker clip sourced from BBC via @treesey/X. Producer: Dayna McAlpine

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Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, we analyse what's really going on in Downing Street this week as Keir Starmer's Government – and the Labour party at large – deal with the fallout of last week's elections.

Timecodes

00:00 – Introduction.

01:40 – What happened to Labour at the 2026 Local Elections?

05:16 – Who wants Starmer to go and how does Labour get rid of its leaders?

13:51 – What's the difference between the Cabinet and other Members of Parliament?

14:20 – Catherine West's “stalking horse” campaign and Keir Starmer's make-or-break speech.

20:50 – Why isn't Starmer going?

23:48 – Wes Streeting's next move.

29:05 – What are Andy Burnham's chances?

33:46 – Will Ed Miliband throw his hat into the ring?

38:12 – A practical explanation of the Labour party spectrum of ideology.

39:40 – What will happen next?

45:13 – Bluffers Guide and end.

You can follow us at @commons.people on Instagram and TikTok. This is a HuffPost UK podcast. Music provided by Epidemic Sounds and Paula Barker clip sourced from BBC via @treesey/X. Producer: Sam Cleal

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, we discuss the probable outcome of the 7 May Local Elections, and whether the predicted devastation for Labour across the country will spell the end of Keir Starmer's leadership.

Timecodes

00:00 – Introduction and the downfall of Labour under Keir Starmer's rule.

08:20 – How would Keir Starmer be gotten rid off, and who would be replace him?

12:54 – Would Ed Miliband step up again?

15:08 – Is Shabana Mahmood up for being Labour Leader?

15:37 – How about Yvette Cooper or John Healey?

17:57 – Will anybody stand by Starmer?

21:40 – Wes Streeting, Andy Burnham and Angela Rayner are the frontrunners to replace Starmer.

30:32 – What will happen after the Local Elections results come in?

44:04 – Bluffers Guide and end.

You can follow us at @commons.people on Instagram and TikTok. This is a HuffPost UK podcast. Music provided by Epidemic Sounds. Producer: Sam Cleal

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.