Andy Burnham declares 'change is coming' to British politics as he holds eve-of-poll rally ahead of Makerfield by-election - while Hugh Grant lends his support to PM hopeful

By GREG HEFFER, POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT and JAMES TAPSFIELD, UK POLITICAL EDITOR Published: 18:32, 17 June 2026 | Updated: 18:56, 17 June 2026 Andy Burnham tonight declared 'change is coming' to British politics as he staged an eve-of-poll rally ahead of the Makerfield by-election - with support from Hugh Grant. The Greater Manchester mayor is bidding to win Thursday's parliamentary contest as he seeks a return to Westminster and the chance to challenge Keir Starmer. In a speech at a community and sports centre in the constituency on Wednesday evening, Mr Burnham claimed Britain was 'at a point on a crossroads'. And his campaign attracted celebrity backing with the arrival of Grant at the Makerfield venue for Mr Burnham's rally. The 65-year-old Hollywood star - known for playing the British prime minister in Love Actually - was pictured in rolled up shirt sleeves and shades next to a Labour-branded gazebo outside the centre. It came as Mr Burnham snubbed a desperate bid by Sir Keir to buy him off with a Cabinet job. The Prime Minister praised Mr Burnham as a 'fantastic asset' and said he wanted him to have a 'big role' in Government if he wins in Makerfield. Sir Keir also attempted to delay the prospect of a leadership challenge, suggesting Labour would need to focus on a contest to replace Mr Burnham as Greater Manchester mayor. That could potentially take until August. Andy Burnham's by-election campaign attracted celebrity backing with the arrival of Hugh Grant in Makerfield The 65-year-old Hollywood star - known for playing the British PM in Love Actually - was pictured in rolled up shirt sleeves and shades next to a Labour gazebo outside the centre Mr Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor, is bidding to win Thursday's parliamentary contest as he seeks a return to Westminster and the chance to challenge Keir Starmer But a source close to Mr Burnham dismissed the idea he could join Sir Keir's top team, insisting he was gaining support because he represents 'change'. Despite vowing he will not walk away, Sir Keir - who is in France for the G7 summit - is facing an increasing clamour for change at the top of the party.   There are claims that Ed Miliband is ready to resign next week to force Sir Keir out if he refuses to go quietly. The Net Zero Secretary has been tipped to join allies of Mr Burnham in walking out of Government. Wes Streeting, the former health secretary, has said he will mount a formal challenge if Sir Keir does not quit voluntarily by Monday, regardless of the by-election result. On the final evening of his by-election campaign in Makerfield tonight, Mr Burnham acknowledged it had been a 'long month' of campaigning. 'But it's all for a purpose,' he told his supporters. 'The inconvenience is for a real purpose, and that is to make sure that this by-election changes British politics, and I believe that is what it's about. 'This by-election is going to put power where it should be, in the hands of people here, in the hands of you, in the hands of 75,000 people across this constituency, a place that has been overlooked by Westminster in the past. 'It's right that this place decides what happens next, the change that comes to British politics, because change is coming, but the question tonight is what kind of change.' He added: 'This is a chance to vote for change; for change in politics, for change in our economy, to vote for people, to make life better for people. 'It is an opportunity to vote for power in the North of England and rebalance things so people here have the same quality of life as they do anywhere. 'It is a vote for Makerfield, it is a vote for hope.' Reform UK has mounted stiff opposition to Labour in Makerfield, with Nigel Farage's party intent on winning the constituency and dashing Mr Burnham's long-held ambition of becoming PM. Mr Farage and Reform's candidate, self-employed plumber Robert Kenyon, have spent the last month urging local voters to 'vote Reform, stop Labour' in their efforts to derail Mr Burnham's bid for No10. But Reform's campaign has been hampered by the decision of Restore Britain, the hard-Right party set up by ex-Reform MP Rupert Lowe, to also stand in the constituency. Recent opinion polls have shown Restore splitting the Right-wing vote by a large enough margin to hand Mr Burnham victory in Makerfield. Should political power shift from Westminster to local communities like Makerfield for real change in Britain? What's your view? 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