John Oliver Sounds Alarm on Labour’s Collapse as UK Political Chaos Explodes in Makerfield By Election
A Local Election Has Become a National Crisis for Britain’s Prime Minister
A seemingly routine parliamentary by election in the northern English constituency of Makerfield has suddenly become the focal point of a political crisis threatening the future of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the Labour Party. In a recent episode of HBO’s Last Week Tonight, comedian and political commentator John Oliver used the race as a case study for what he describes as a growing failure of centrist political parties to deliver on promises of change while simultaneously alienating their core supporters.
The special election comes just two years after Labour swept into power, ending 14 years of Conservative Party rule and promising a new direction for Britain. Today, however, Labour finds itself facing collapsing approval ratings, internal rebellion, and growing threats from increasingly popular right-wing political movements.
Labour’s Honeymoon Is Over
When Labour won the 2024 general election, voters were promised economic recovery, political stability, and a break from years of Conservative turmoil.
Instead, many voters now believe little has changed. Britain continues to struggle with sluggish economic growth, rising living costs, and public frustration over government spending priorities. One of the most controversial decisions by Starmer’s government was the reduction of winter fuel support for elderly citizens, a move that generated significant public backlash and fueled accusations that Labour had abandoned working class voters.
Critics have also attacked Starmer for abandoning many of the progressive positions that helped elevate him to power. Issues surrounding climate policy, immigration, transgender healthcare, and civil liberties have increasingly become sources of tension within Labour’s own base. Political focus groups cited in Oliver’s segment described Starmer as weak, indecisive, and lacking a clear political identity, an image problem that has become increasingly difficult for Labour to overcome.
The Epstein Connection Adds Fuel to the Fire
Compounding Labour’s troubles has been controversy surrounding Peter Mandelson, one of the party’s most influential political figures. Starmer’s decision to appoint Mandelson as Britain’s ambassador to Washington sparked criticism due to Mandelson’s past association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Although Mandelson has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, the appointment became a political liability for Labour and provided ammunition for both domestic opponents and international critics. The controversy further damaged public confidence in Starmer’s leadership during a period when Labour was already struggling to maintain support.
Enter Andy Burnham: Labour’s Potential Savior
At the center of the political drama is Andy Burnham, the popular Mayor of Greater Manchester. Burnham has long been viewed as one of Labour’s most effective communicators and one of the few politicians capable of reconnecting the party with working class voters across northern England. According to reports highlighted by Oliver, senior Labour figures increasingly view Burnham as a potential replacement for Starmer. There is one major obstacle.
Under British law, a prime minister must be a Member of Parliament. Burnham currently serves as mayor and does not hold a seat in the House of Commons. The solution came when Labour MP Josh Simons resigned his seat in Makerfield, triggering a by election and creating a pathway for Burnham to return to Parliament. If Burnham wins the race, he would immediately become a potential challenger for Labour’s leadership.
If he loses, Labour’s political crisis could deepen significantly.
The Rise of Reform UK
While Labour struggles internally, Britain’s political right continues gaining momentum. Reform UK, led by longtime Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage, has emerged as one of the fastest-growing political forces in the country. The party recently achieved major success in local elections, winning nearly 1,500 council seats and positioning itself as a serious challenger to both Labour and the Conservatives.
Farage has built Reform’s message around immigration restrictions, anti-establishment rhetoric, and criticism of Britain’s political elite. However, the party has also faced repeated controversies involving candidates accused of racist, anti-Muslim, and inflammatory remarks.
Oliver highlighted several examples involving Reform candidates who made offensive comments about immigrants and Muslims, arguing that Labour’s drift toward the political center has created opportunities for more extreme voices to gain traction.
An Even More Radical Challenge
Beyond Reform UK lies an even further right movement known as Restore Britain. The emerging party has attracted attention due to reported support from billionaire Elon Musk and its aggressive platform focused on immigration, national identity, and religious restrictions. Party leader Robert Lowe has advocated policies including banning the burqa, restricting Islamic legal practices, and limiting certain forms of religious slaughter.
While Restore Britain remains significantly smaller than Reform UK, its growing visibility reflects broader shifts occurring within British politics as traditional party loyalties continue to weaken.
The Battle for Makerfield
Despite Labour holding Makerfield and its predecessor constituencies for more than a century, the race has become surprisingly competitive. Many local voters view Burnham’s candidacy with skepticism, believing he is using the constituency as a stepping stone to reach 10 Downing Street rather than genuinely representing local interests. That frustration has opened the door for Reform UK’s candidate Robert Kenyon, a local plumber who presents himself as an outsider and working-class alternative to Labour’s political establishment.
However, Kenyon has also faced intense scrutiny over his social media history. Past online posts attributed to him include openly describing himself as sexist and making disparaging comments about women. Additional controversy erupted after reporters questioned him about crude online comments involving British television personality Carol Vorderman, creating yet another headline-grabbing moment in an already chaotic campaign.
A Warning for Centrist Parties Worldwide
While the Makerfield race may appear to be a uniquely British political story, Oliver argued that its lessons extend far beyond the United Kingdom. The broader warning centers on what happens when parties campaign as agents of change but govern in ways that disappoint their supporters. According to Oliver, repeatedly shifting rightward in response to conservative pressure can alienate a party’s base without ever satisfying its critics. The result is a political vacuum that allows more extreme movements to gain strength while voters lose faith in traditional institutions.
Whether Labour survives the current crisis may depend heavily on the outcome in Makerfield.\ What began as a local parliamentary contest has transformed into a referendum on Keir Starmer’s leadership, Labour’s future, and the direction of British politics itself. For now, all eyes are on a constituency located between Manchester and Liverpool—a place that may determine who leads Britain long before the next general election arrives.
