Jake Austin - Lib Dem Candidate, Makerfield

Jake Austin — Liberal Democrat Candidate, Makerfield By-Election 2026

Last updated: 25 May 2026 By-election date: Thursday 18 June 2026

Bio

Detail	Info
Full name	Jake Austin
Age	~26 (born c. 2000)
Born	Makerfield constituency, Greater Manchester
Location	Stockport
Occupation	Stockport Councillor
Party	Liberal Democrats

How They Got Selected

Selected as Lib Dem candidate for Makerfield on 22 May 2026. Previously stood against Andy Burnham in the 2024 Greater Manchester Mayoral election (came 6th) and stood in Makerfield in the 2024 general election.

Political History

Role	Years
Stockport Councillor (Cheadle Hulme South)	Elected 2023
Lib Dem candidate for GM Mayor	2024 (6th place)
Lib Dem candidate for Makerfield (GE)	2024

Polling

Date	Pollster	Austin %	Notes
23 May	Survation / Sunday Times	4%	Trailing main contenders

Key Statements & Quotes

Highlights his "born and raised in Makerfield" roots in campaign materials
Campaign focus: local NHS, public transport, clean air, devolution accountability

What It Means

The Lib Dems are a minor force in Makerfield — a historically safe Labour seat in Greater Manchester. Austin's campaign focuses on local issues and offering a centrist alternative, but the race is dominated by the Labour-Reform battle.

SourcesTwitter/X Discussion

Source: Nitter search, May 2026

Austin gets relatively little Twitter coverage as the race is dominated by Burnham, Kenyon, and Shepherd. Key mentions:

Accused of ignoring local concerns: A blog post widely shared by @RestoreBritain_ claimed "Jake Austin, the LibDem candidate in Makerfield, was provided with evidence of appalling LibDem human rights abuses and planning corruption at Stockport. He wasn't bothered." — used as an attack line by right-wing accounts Background mention: One tweet listing all candidates included "Jake Austin-Liberal Democrats" as an also-ran, with the Loony Party candidate given the same billing Election prediction tweets: Consistently polled at 2-3% in amateur projections, usually mentioned in passing

Reddit Discussion

Austin is barely discussed on Reddit. The Lib Dems are acknowledged as a non-factor in this race — the seat is a Labour-Reform fight. His role as Stockport councillor is occasionally mentioned but without significant comment.