In a video posted to X just after polls opened, soundtracked by Manchester band New Order, Andy Burnham said: “This is a change by-election.
“We left Westminster 10 years ago to build something different, something better.
“We worked on a place-first basis, rather than party first, problem solving rather than point scoring.
“We’ve taken that fight for people here, and I’ll carry that fight forward if I am lucky enough to be elected as the MP for Makerfield. I’ll take that fight as high as I can possibly take it.”