Overview
- The by-election is scheduled for 26 February after the Commons moved the writ following Andrew Gwynne’s resignation.
- Reform UK unveiled GB News presenter and academic Matt Goodwin as its candidate, and he framed the contest as a referendum on Keir Starmer.
- Find Out Now polling of 143 constituents suggests Reform at 36%, Labour 33%, Greens 21%, with reports cautioning that constituency polling is highly uncertain.
- Polling cited in coverage also suggests Labour would perform better with Andy Burnham as its candidate, though Labour’s NEC has barred him from standing.
- Around 50 Labour MPs asked the NEC to revisit the Burnham decision as Starmer warned Reform would bring “toxic division,” and The Muslim Vote urged supporters to back the Greens.