Nigel Farage joins Reform’s ‘plucky plumber’ on Makerfield campaign trail as by-election date confirmed

Nigel Farage has joined Reform UK's candidate for the Makerfield by-election as the pair kicked off the party's campaign trail for the hotly contested seat.

The Reform UK leader was seen posing alongside his chosen candidate Rob Kenyon in front of the "plucky plumber's" white van.

Mr Farage wrote on X alongside a picture of the local tradesman: "Arrived in Makerfield constituency to campaign with Rob Kenyon".

Mr Kenyon responded in kind with another image in which he is showing Mr Farage his plumber's tools.

Mr Kenyon, a former army reservist and NHS technician, is currently the elected councillor for the Bryn with Ashton-in-Makerfield North ward having previously come a close second place to Labour's John Simons in the 2024 general election.

The born-and-bred Makerfield local gathered 12,803 votes (31.8 per cent), just 5,399 votes behind Mr Simons - who resigned his seat to make way for Labour leadership hopeful Andy Burnham.

Mr Burnham has since been nominated as the Labour candidate for the by-election which Reform has compared to a "David vs Goliath" battle.

Earlier today, Wigan council confirmed the Makerfield by-election will take place on Thursday June 18.

Makerfield, made up of Wigan, Hindley and Ashton-in-Makerfield, has been held by Labour for decades.

If elected, Mr Kenyon would become the first person born in the constituency to become the MP.

Announcing Mr Kenyon as his candidate yesterday, Mr Farage said: "This by-election contest is now a David versus Goliath battle.

"This is ‘the plucky plumber’ taking on ‘open borders Burnham’. Only Reform UK can beat Labour in this by-election."

And in a video shared by the party, Mr Kenyon said: "Labour and a lot of the other parties have got career politicians, they go to private school, they go to university, they get a job at a think tank.

"For Andy Burnham, Makerfield will be a stepping stone, but for me it’s the only place I’ve ever wanted to represent."

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Andy Burnham has yet to officially launch his campaign in Makerfield.

The Greater Manchester Mayor has been touted as a potential successor to Keir Starmer as Prime Minister but must become an MP in order to throw his hat in the ring.

New polling shows a Labour Party under Mr Burnham could have the strength to beat Reform in a general election.

According to the More in Common survey of 2,599 respondents, Labour would gain an eight point boost should the former Leigh MP take the helm.

The swing can largely be attributed to a third of disenfranchised Labour voters returning to the party since the 2024 general election.

More in Common UK director Luke Tryl said: "So far, it looks like Andy Burnham’s appeal extends beyond Greater Manchester.

"In a hypothetical general election, he could give Labour a lead over Reform – winning back progressive voters who have drifted away, but also making gains with some of those the party has lost to Reform."