Andy Burnham has clashed with Nigel Farage over an attack ad showing Channel migrants backing him in the Makerfield by-election.

The Reform leader posted a doctored image on social media of people in a small boat carrying 'Vote Andy' placards.

Stepping up his rhetoric ahead of the June 18 vote, Mr Farage insisted: 'Andy Burnham is for them, not for you.' 

But the Greater Manchester Mayor responded with a laughing emoji, saying: 'Are you getting desperate, lad? Maybe keep your crypto millions for something else.'

An undeterred Mr Farage hit back that the mayor was funding efforts to help illegal migrants claim benefits.   

'Your scheme will provide housing and benefits to people who came here illegally. I prefer to put the British people first,' he said.

The spat erupted with the race in Makerfield too close to call between Labour and Reform.

An early poll last week put Mr Burnham on 43 per cent support, with Reform's Rob Kenyon on 40 per cent.

Constituency surveys are notoriously difficult, suggesting that the contest is effectively neck and neck. 

Notably the poll showed Rupert Lowe's Restore Britain on 7 per cent, sparking more calls for the Right to unite to avoid handing the seat to Mr Burnham.  

Labour insiders have voiced alarm that Mr Burnham is already 'wargaming' a snap general election and assembling a fantasy Cabinet.

The former Cabinet minister has been warned against taking Makerfield for granted amid mounting signs allies are plotting his first steps as PM. 

Plans are said to be in place for calling a snap general election if he has a 'honeymoon' period after taking over from Keir Starmer.

There is also frenzied jostling over who would be in his Cabinet, with speculation that Ed Miliband and Shabana Mahmood are both in the frame to become Chancellor. 

Mr Burnham has been making little secret of his intention to challenge Sir Keir, who has faced a wave of anger after disastrous local elections.

In a campaign video last week he told Makerfield voters they could make the constituency the 'most powerful in the land' by putting him in the Commons.