The full list of Makerfield by-election candidates confirmed
All of the candidates ready to challenge for the Makerfield by-election seat
Names contending in the Makerfield by-election have been released to voters ahead of the vote on June 18.
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A new MP will be elected after Labour's Josh Simons stepped down to free up the seat for Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to run.
He will be challenged by a vast array of candidates from mainstream parties as well as independents. Here is a list and the credentials of all of those to have declared so far.
All of the Makerfield by-election candidates
Andy Burnham, Labour
The Mayor of Greater Manchester is standing for the seat, hoping to return to Parliament, having been MP for nearby Leigh from 2005 to 2017.
Alan 'Howlin' Laud Hope, The Official Monster Raving Loony Party
Frequent novelty candidate Howlin' Lord Hope is set to stand once more.
Robert Kenyon, Reform UK
Reform's candidate for the seat in the last election has been confirmed to stand again, with the self-employed plumber announcing this week that he will try and win for Reform.
Michael Winstanley, Conservative Party
Mr Winstanley was born in Makerfield and served as a Wigan councillor for Orrell for 16 years from 2000, including a year as the town’s mayor. He stood for the seat in 1997, when he came second.
Rebecca Shepherd, Restore Britain
Rebecca Shepherd, a businesswoman based in Makerfield, has been announced as the candidate for Restore.
Liberal Democrat - Jake Austin
The Liberal Democrats have announced Jake Austin, a councillor who stood for the party in the 2024 Greater Manchester Mayoral elections.
Green Party - Sarah Wakefield
Sarah Wakefield, a councillor on Manchester City Council, will stand for the party after its initial candidate, Chris Kennedy, withdrew from the race.
Rejoin EU - Peter Ward
Barrister Peter Ward has been announced as the candidate for the pro-European Rejoin EU party.
John Dyer, Independent
The independent was the 14th name to be added to the list of candidates.
Paul Gould, Independent
The independent candidate is standing for election for the first time.
Robert Pownall, Independent (Protect The Wild)
Another independent candidate who is standing under the 'protect the wild' banner.
Dan Clarke, Libertarian Party
The party's co-ordinator for the North-West stood in the Gorton and Denton by-election in February.
Ed Gemmell, Climate Party
The leader of the environmental-focused party is a former lawyer and army officer.
Count Binface, Count Binface Party
Jonathan Harvey will stand once more as his alter-ego Count Binface, having contested many elections and by-elections since 2018.