Reform UK’s claim to be the nation’s anti-establishment party is undermined by the number of former Conservative ministers in its ranks – a weakness Restore Britain looks set to exploit. With the Makerfield by-election now just days away, the result could be seismic. In this episode from In The Room, Helen MacNamara and Cleo Watson discuss what this crucial vote could mean for the future of British politics, with Labour’s Andy Burnham widely expected to challenge Sir Keir Starmer for the Labour leadership if he wins, while a victory for Reform’s Robert Kenyon would show that Labour’s red wall is crumbling. They also explain why, despite Nigel Farage’s insistence that the by-election is a two-horse race between Labour and Reform, Restore Britain could still play a big role in the outcome. New episodes of In The Room drop every week. You can listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or watch on YouTube.