What to expect from the Makerfield by-election

Andy Burnham and Robert Kenyon are vying to be the latest MP to join the House of Commons (Pictures: AFP/Getty)

It’s been just under five weeks since that mad mid-May Thursday when Wes Streeting resigned as Health Secretary, Angela Rayner said her tax affairs were sorted, and Josh Simons stepped down as Makerfield’s MP to make way for Andy Burnham.

We’ve spent enough time in political limbo. In the early hours of Friday morning, one of the key loose ends following the events of May 14 will be tied up when we learn the results of today’s by-election in that south Wigan constituency.

You don’t need me to tell you it’s pivotal....