Luke Akehurst

Labour MP for North Durham. Email: [email protected]

[Luke Akehurst @lukeakehurst]

If you are a North Durham constituent and need to contact me please email [email protected]

[Councillor News UK @ElectCllrsUK]

We are approaching the time of the year where the 6-month rule takes effect.

After 6th November 2026, any casual vacancy that occurs in a local authority, must have its by-election delayed to LE2027.
This only occurs if the councillor's term would have ended in 2027.

If the councillor's term ends in 2028-2031, a by-election is still held.

[The Times and Sunday Times @thetimes]

Three of Britain’s four nuclear deterrent submarines put to sea https://t.co/JEpn2pFvEw

[Larisa Brown @larisamlbrown]

Exclusive:

Three of Britain’s four nuclear deterrent submarines are out at sea in an "unusual" situation, @thetimes has been told

It has been at least five years since this happened, according to former naval source

https://t.co/OeQVVePAof

[electionmapsuk @electionmapsuk]

Westminster Voting Intention:

LAB: 27% (=)
CON: 22% (-1)
RFM: 20% (-2)
LDM: 11% (=)
GRN: 10% (=)
RES: 4% (+1)
SNP: 2% (=)

Via @YouGov, 25-26 Oct.
Changes w/ 18-19 Oct.

[ControlAI @ControlAI]

Luke Akehurst MP (@lukeakehurst) is the latest UK lawmaker to recognize the risk of human extinction posed by runaway machine intelligence!

Over 180 have now joined our call for binding regulation on the most powerful systems.

[Luke Tryl @LukeTryl]

Those gains come from consolidating Labour’s 2024 vote. Since May, the share of 2024 Labour voters staying loyal has risen from 56% to 68%, as defections to Reform fell from 11% to 7% and to the Greens halved from 9% to 4%. Defections to the Conservatives rose slightly to 6%

[Luke Tryl @LukeTryl]

The ‘Burnham Bounce’ is driven most clearly by progressives. Since May, Labour is up 13 points with Progressive Activists, as the Greens fall 11, and up over 10 with the Incrementalist Left. It has also gained 7 points with Rooted Patriots, the most red wall adjacent segment.

[Luke Tryl @LukeTryl]

🧵It’s Day 100 of the Burnham premiership. Burnham has made a good first impression personally and lifted the Labour brand, with Labour up 7pts since May. There are longer-term challenges ahead, but Labour has enjoyed a sustained rise in support since July. What's driving it?

[Sam Coates Sky @SamCoatesSky]

YouGov / Sky News / Times voting intention

LAB 27%(nc)
CON 22%(-1)
RefUK 20%(-2)
LDEM 11%(nc)
GRN 10%(nc)

25/26 Oct

[The New York Times @nytimes]

Breaking News: Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva defeated Flávio Bolsonaro to stay president of Brazil, halting the right’s march in Latin America. Follow live updates. https://t.co/vr6TetYb1D

[Luke Akehurst @lukeakehurst]

More than 200 voters spoken to today, thanks @durhamunilabour for your help with the Craghead and South Moor byelection!

[Luke Akehurst @lukeakehurst]

Thank you @durhamunilabour for joining us for byelection canvassing in Stanley today! #labourdoorstep

[Luke Akehurst @lukeakehurst]

@alanbarnard1 @REWearmouth Part of what is going on is that Andy is very popular in the Red Wall and seen as "getting" Red Wall communities - saying this as someone doing 5 or 6 canvass sessions every weekend right now for a council byelection in North Durham pit villages.

[Owen Winter @OwenWntr]

Conservatives overtake Reform for the first time since January 2025 in our poll tracker. Labour still rising https://t.co/YBsTxpU0j9

[electionmapsuk @electionmapsuk]

🌹 | Highest Labour vote share with ANY pollster since October 2024.

[electionmapsuk @electionmapsuk]

Westminster Voting Intention:

LAB: 32% (+5)
CON: 24% (+3)
RFM: 20% (-3)
LDM: 9% (+1)
GRN: 8% (-5)
SNP: 3% (-1)
RES: 3% (=)

Via @Ipsos_in_the_UK, 15-22 Oct.
Changes w/ 10-15 Sep.

[The Northern Echo @TheNorthernEcho]

Wes Streeting says defence investment can boost North East jobs https://t.co/BzyGRG0GVZ

[Ipsos in the UK @Ipsos_in_the_UK]

NEW headline voting intention from Ipsos

📊Labour on 32% with a lead of +8 – the largest Labour lead Ipsos have recorded this parliament

📊Conservatives take second place the first time since June 2025

📊Reform UK down 3 points and Greens down 5

[Luke Akehurst @lukeakehurst]

@jeremy_average @SamJRushworth Yes, very rare to get anything other than polite response. People are pleased political parties and MPs and cllrs bother to call round. Pretty sure Labour does more door knocking than it did then, when fewer seats were competitive.

[Luke Akehurst @lukeakehurst]

Thank you to @SamJRushworth for joining us for byelection canvassing in South Moor this afternoon! #labourdoorstep