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Labour’s By-Election Landslide Offers Albanese a Lesson — and a Warning

A decisive Labour victory in a British by-election this week may offer Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese a useful political lesson in how to respond to the rise of One Nation.

Across the United Kingdom, as in Australia, traditional political loyalties have been shaken by a growing right-wing populist movement. Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, has surged in national polling by tapping into public frustration over immigration, cost-of-living pressures and distrust of major political parties.

But in the north-west England constituency of Makerfield, voters delivered a striking result.

Andy Burnham, Labour’s candidate and the popular Mayor of Greater Manchester, secured a crushing victory for the deeply unpopular Labour government. Reform UK, which had been seen as a serious contender in the campaign, finished a distant second.

The result may appear to be a local British contest, but political observers say it carries broader lessons for Australia. While the British and Australian electoral systems are very different, the campaign demonstrated how mainstream parties may be able to counter the appeal of populist movements without simply copying their language or priorities.

At the same time, the outcome may also contain a warning for Albanese and Labor.

A Campaign Overshadowed by Bigger Political Drama

The Makerfield by-election unfolded against the backdrop of a turbulent year for Britain’s Labour government.

Burnham, a long-serving political figure and one of Labour’s best-known communicators, is widely viewed as a possible future prime minister. His popularity in Greater Manchester, combined with his reputation for connecting with ordinary voters, gave Labour a high-profile candidate at a critical moment.

Early in the campaign, Reform UK was considered to have a genuine chance of causing an upset, despite Makerfield traditionally being one of Labour’s safest seats.

Reform UK candidate Robert Kenyon, a local councillor and plumber, positioned himself as an anti-establishment voice. However, his campaign was damaged by controversy over past social-media posts, including one in which he wrote: “I’m sexist, sorry but I am.”

His direct and unpolished style may have appealed to some voters, but against Burnham’s polished and disciplined campaign, Kenyon often struggled to gain momentum.

Reform UK and One Nation: Different Countries, Similar Political Forces

Reform UK, formed in 2018, has built much of its support around concerns about immigration, national identity and dissatisfaction with the political establishment.

The party shares similarities with Pauline Hanson’s One Nation in Australia. Both have attracted voters who feel ignored by mainstream politics, particularly in working-class communities and regional areas.

Nigel Farage, like Pauline Hanson, has been a prominent political figure for decades. He became internationally known during the 2016 Brexit referendum, where he was one of the strongest voices pushing for Britain to leave the European Union.

Farage presents himself as a champion of ordinary people and national pride, although critics argue that he often fuels public anger by portraying Britain as a country in decline.

Reform UK currently has only a small number of MPs in Britain’s lower house of parliament, but its national support has grown sharply. In Australia, One Nation has also experienced renewed support, particularly as voters express frustration over living costs, housing pressure, migration and distrust in major parties.

Although neither Australia nor the United Kingdom faces a national election immediately, both Reform UK and One Nation are positioning themselves as parties capable of moving beyond protest politics and into government.

Why Labour Won

Reform UK entered Makerfield with momentum. So why did Labour win so convincingly?

Burnham focused heavily on local concerns, especially the cost of living, household pressure and services affecting working families.

Reform UK also raised cost-of-living concerns, but Farage and Kenyon attempted to make immigration a central issue in the campaign.

Political experts believe Burnham’s refusal to be drawn into that debate was one of his strongest strategic decisions.

Aurelien Mondon, a politics professor at the University of Bath, said mainstream parties often make the mistake of allowing far-right parties to define the political conversation.

“They often paint parties like One Nation and Reform UK as a threat, but they also give credence to these moral panics that the far-right push,” he said.

He argued that issues such as race tensions, transgender rights, Islam and free speech can become more powerful for populist movements when mainstream parties repeatedly centre them in political debate.

“Talking about these issues, even if it is to disagree, normalises them,” Professor Mondon said. “It’s a vicious cycle that emboldens the far-right.”

The Message for Albanese

For Anthony Albanese and the Australian Labor Party, the Makerfield result may offer a clear political lesson.

The most effective response to One Nation may not be to constantly attack Pauline Hanson or repeat her talking points. Instead, Labor may need to focus more strongly on the everyday concerns that drive voters toward populist parties in the first place — housing affordability, cost-of-living pressures, wages, health services, local jobs and community security.

But the warning is equally clear.

When voters feel ignored, dismissed or economically left behind, populist parties can grow quickly. Reform UK’s rise in Britain shows that political movements built on anger and distrust can become powerful even when they have limited parliamentary representation.

Makerfield may have delivered Labour a thumping win.

But for Albanese, it may also be a reminder that the political ground beneath mainstream parties can shift very quickly.

Bells Beach Closed After Whale Carcass Washes Ashore

Victoria’s iconic Bells Beach has been temporarily closed after a whale carcass washed onto the shoreline, prompting warnings of increased shark activity in the area.

VicEmergency issued an alert at about 2:00pm, advising beachgoers to avoid the water at both Bells Beach and nearby Winkipop.

Authorities warned that a whale carcass may attract sharks closer to shore than usual.

“A whale carcass can attract sharks to the area and mean they are closer to the shore than normal,” the alert said.

At approximately 3:30pm, the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority confirmed that Bells Beach had been closed temporarily while authorities assess the situation.

The authority said tides may eventually pull the carcass back out to sea, but crews will continue monitoring the beach and surrounding waters.

“Tides should drag it back out to sea, but we will continue to monitor,” the authority said in a social-media update.

The Victorian Fisheries Authority is also monitoring the area for possible shark sightings.

While sharks are regularly found along Victoria’s coastline, authorities have urged swimmers, surfers and beach visitors to take extra precautions and follow all safety advice until the area is declared safe.

Beachgoers are encouraged to stay out of the water, avoid the shoreline near the carcass and monitor official emergency updates before returning to Bells Beach or Winkipop.