Dan Clarke — Libertarian Party Candidate, Makerfield By-Election 2026

Dan Clarke — Libertarian Party Candidate, Makerfield By-Election 2026 
 | Last updated: 26 May 2026
 By-election date: Thursday 18 June 2026 
 
 Bio 
 
 
 
 Detail 
 Info 
 
 
 
 
 Full name 
 Dan Clarke 
 
 
 Party 
 Libertarian Party 
 
 
 Role 
 North-West Co-ordinator, Libertarian Party 
 
 
 Previous election 
 Gorton and Denton by-election (February 2026) 
 
 
 Occupation 
 Libertarian activist / campaigner 
 
 
 
 
 How They Got Selected 
 Announced as the Libertarian Party candidate for Makerfield on 25 May 2026. The party confirmed via a spokesperson: 
 
 "The Libertarian Party can announce that Dan Clarke will be our candidate for the Makerfield by-election, an experienced campaigner who will be giving it his all. Dan will oppose both socialism and nationalism, focusing on growing the economy, and cutting government spending and waste." 
 
 Previous candidacy: Stood in the Gorton and Denton by-election in February 2026. 
 Clarke himself said voters in Makerfield "deserve the option to support a candidate willing to challenge the government, stand up for local constituents, and put personal freedom at the heart of politics." 
 
 Policy Platform 
 Based on Libertarian Party platform and Clarke's campaign statements: 
 
 Anti-socialism and anti-nationalism — the party opposes both 
 Economic growth through cuts — focus on cutting government spending and waste 
 Anti-surveillance — oppose "growing CCTV monitoring of our lives" 
 Anti-digital ID — oppose any proposals for a digital ID system 
 Nanny state opposition — argue the "size and reach of government has blighted this country" 
 Personal freedom — put individual liberty at the heart of their platform 
 
 Spokesperson: "For the Libertarian Party and for many, many citizens, this is wrong and the 'nanny state' needs to be rolled back." 
 
 What It Means 
 The Libertarian Party adds to an increasingly crowded field — 9 confirmed candidates for the 18 June by-election. Clarke is a minor candidate who polled at negligible levels in Gorton and Denton. His presence further fragments the vote, primarily drawing from people who would otherwise vote Conservative or not at all, but at such low levels it won't affect the Labour-Reform battle. 
 Previously mentioned in passing in Andy Burnham's Nitter section as coverage of the new Libertarian candidate. 
 
 Sources 
 
 BBC — Libertarian Party announces Makerfield by-election candidate (26 May 2026) 
 Manchester Evening News — Makerfield by-election LIVE (26 May 2026) 
 PollCheck — Makerfield By-Election