Prime Minister Keir Starmer says he will back Labour’s candidate for the upcoming Makerfield by-election “100%”, regardless of who that contender is. Speaking on the prospect of the election, Starmer frames his support as aimed at ensuring Labour retains the seat and faces down the challenge associated with Nigel Farage’s Reform UK. The reporting focuses on Starmer’s statement that he will support whichever candidate Labour selects for the contest, rather than naming or endorsing a specific individual in advance. The Belfast Telegraph report mirrors the Evening Standard coverage, presenting the same core message without adding further detail. Overall, the accounts agree that Starmer’s comments are tied to the political context of a possible Reform UK threat, and that his commitment is to Labour’s eventual selection for Makerfield. The sources do not provide additional information on the timetable for candidate selection or the identity of the eventual Labour contender.