Biggest special election ever? Reform UK opens candidate applications

Reform UK has already opened applications to be its candidate for the Makerfield by-election. Party members were emailed about the selection process this evening, and the deadline for applications is Sunday. “We’re determined”, said one senior party figure. “It’s going to be a tight fight.” The constituency on the western fringes of Greater Manchester has a Labour majority of 5,399 and has been a party stronghold for decades. Yet at last week's local elections, across the eight Makerfield wards that voted, about 50 per cent of people backed Reform UK