'It's a win-win!' Richard Tice 'delighted' by Andy Burnham's by-election bid against Reform UK

Richard Tice has expressed his "delight" at Andy Burnham confirming his bid to stand in the Makerfield by-election, declaring the move a "win-win" for Reform UK.

Speaking to GB News, the Deputy Leader of Reform UK said the party will throw "everything" at the election to secure a victory.

Delivering his verdict on Mr Burnham's decision to run in the by-election, Mr Tice told GB News: "We're delighted that Andy Burnham has chosen Makerfield.

"At the general election, we got almost 13,000 votes. The majority of Josh Simons was only 6,000, and frankly, we're going to throw everything at this."

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Mr Tice predicted that the election will be a "very exciting race" between Mr Burnham and Reform.

He said: "And let's just remember, Wigan is a long way from Manchester and a local Wigan candidate as opposed to someone being parachuted in from Manchester, I have to tell you that this is going to be a very exciting race.

"And our ambition is to ensure that Andy Burnham is thrown out completely."

The Deputy Leader of Reform highlighted for Mr Burnham to stand in Makerfield, he will have to "resign as Mayor of Greater Manchester".

He told GB News: "Of course, he has to resign as mayor of Greater Manchester when nominations close, so we want to defeat him in the constituency.

"He would have had to resign as Mayor of Greater Manchester, and then we will win the election of a new mayor, so we think it's a win-win for us."

Mr Tice declared Mr Burnham's bid to challenge Sir Keir for the Labour leadership is a "massive gamble".

He stressed: "He is taking a massive gamble in a seat which is basically a strong, strong Reform seat.

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"What that tells you is he couldn't find anything else, and that tells you how popular Andy Burnham really is."

Mr Tice concluded: "And I have to tell you in Wigan, a long way from Manchester, we're going to find out."

Weighing in on Mr Burnham's chances in the by-election, former Attorney General Sir Michael Ellis agreed it is "not a slam dunk" for the Manchester mayor.

He said: "This is not a slam dunk. I would actually agree with Richard on that. On the numbers alone and on the local election results, this is not a safe Labour seat.

"To have only won it by a 5,000 majority two years ago at the general election, it cannot be assumed that this is a shoe-in for Andy Burnham, even though he may be popular in the area. It's not enough."

Mr Burnham confirmed this evening he will request to stand in the Makerfield by-election, with a plan to "change Labour for the better and make it a party you can believe in again".

In a post on social media, Mr Burnham said: "There is only so much that can be done from Greater Manchester. Much bigger change is needed at a national level if everyday life is to be made more affordable again.

"This is why I now seek people’s support to return to Parliament: to bring the change we have brought to Greater Manchester to the whole of the UK and make politics work properly for people."

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