Hey guys, it's Mark. Next week, there's a local election in the UK that could be the most

consequential in recent British political history. Voters in Makerfield, just outside Manchester,

head to the polls to choose a new member of parliament. Among the candidates is former

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham. He's widely seen as a potential challenger to Prime Minister,

Sir Kier-Starmeror and Labor's future leader.

Burnham is the bookmaker's favorite, but there's a catch, a strong challenge from Reform, UK,

the insurgent party that continues to disrupt British politics.

If Burnham wins, attention would be on what his return to Westminster would mean.

But if reform pulls off and upset,

it would send shockwaves through the political establishment. In this episode of the F.T.'s

Political Fix podcast, Lucy Fisher and her panel look beyond the headlines. And they ask,

what's really driving voters in Makerfield and how could the result shape the future of British politics?

Enjoy.

I just want somebody fresh, somebody new, somebody from here, somebody who gets it.

A flavour there of what voters are saying in Makerfield. We need somebody with a backbone.

With all people in, they're supposed to do what they said they're going to do, and none of them have so far.

Welcome to Political Fix from the Financial Times with me, Lucy Fisher.

Now, we are recording this in a pub in Makerfield, where I've been on the ground for two days now,

trying to take the political temperature ahead of the by-election next week.

It is shaping up to be potentially the most historic by-election in British history. It could change the course of the country

if Labour candidate Andy Burnham wins and successfully challenges Sarkir Stama, as we know he's

planning to do for the premiership. And we're just sitting down to record as John Healy, the

...