Polls close in historic Makerfield byelection that could see Andy Burnham elected and pave way for end of Starmer – UK politics live

Labour’s Greater Manchester mayor hopes a win over Reform UK will help force the prime minister to step aside

• Polls close in Makerfield byelection as Andy Burnham eyes No 10

• Burnham brings in top economists before possible leadership run

On Newsnight Nicholas Watt, the programme’s political editor, has said Reform UK are briefing that they think they will get their highest share of the vote in a byelection in Makerfield, beating the 39% that Sarah Pochin got when she won the Runcorn and Helsby byelection last year (by six votes).

Runcorn and Helsby may have been a record for Reform UK. But Ukip, which in many respects was its predecessor party, got 60% of the vote in the Clacton byelection in 2014.