Reform to launch seven new by-election bids on same day Nigel Farage challenges Andy Burnham in Makerfield

Britons across all parts of the UK are heading to the polls tomorrow - but it is not merely Makerfield residents gearing up to cast their ballot.Across England and Wales, voters will have their say in the national debate while media swarm Andy Burnham's pending bid to return to Westminster. Council by-elections will be held across Swansea, Wrexham, Essex and London's borough of Lewisham, with some councillors being replaced after only winning their seat last month.Green councillor Liam Shrivastava, who represented Crofton Park in Lewisham, resigned after being elected the Mayor of Lewisham at the 2026 Local Elections. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say Under electoral law, councillors are not permitted to hold both positions.Mr Shrivastava's replacement as the ward's Green candidate, however, has whipped up controversy in the by-election. Last week, it was revealed Esther Lie had referred to Indian men as having rapey grins in a 13-year-old social media post.In a post on Twitter back in 2013, she wrote: Almost fancied the Indian guys at the swimming pool yesterday. Despite their thick prickly torsos and rapey grins.The shocking comment triggered mass backlash, with Labour accusing Zack Polanski's Greens of selecting candidates with racist views.In a statement on the now-deleted post, Ms Lie insisted her comment shared with the internet wasn't ever meant for public consumption.She said: This tweet was made 13 years ago, in response to a particular event that had happened to me whilst backpacking as a young person.Hence why I deleted it several years ago. It reflects the lack of constructive spaces for people facing sexual assault at the time. I think it is clearly inappropriate and I apologise.POLITICS LATEST:Wes Streeting hails ‘plucky underdog’ GB News as The People Channel celebrates 5th birthdayDrag queens boycott Pride event after finding out organiser is gay Reform councillorKeir Starmer's leadership woes spark G7 fears as allies fret Labour will lurch 'further left'Anna Turley, Chair of the Labour Party, claimed that Ms Lie had no place anywhere near public life and called on Mr Polanski to take responsibility for his candidates.Seven of the 11 ward seats up for grabs this Thursday are also offering voters the chance to cast their ballot for Reform UK for the first time. Conservatives are defending four wards, while Plaid Cymru are defending three and Reform UK is batting off its rivals defend two seats. Labour, meanwhile, is only defending one ward in Swansea.FULL LIST OF COUNCIL BY-ELECTIONS ON JUNE 18:Grosvenor (Wrexham)Acton Maesydre (Wrexham)Mumbes (Swansea)Morriston (Swansea)Sweyne Park Grange (Rochford)Bransgore, Burley, Sopley Ringwood East (New Forest)Crofton Park (Lewisham)Rayleigh West (Essex)Tudno (Conwy)Gogarth Mostyn (Conwy) Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter