LONDON — The party leader has publicly confirmed he will spend the upcoming weeks personally campaigning to ensure a prominent regional mayor secures the Makerfield parliamentary seat strictly required to launch a formal leadership challenge against him.

The by-election follows significant electoral losses in May that fueled widespread internal calls for the leader's exit. Attempting to deflect accountability for the party's recent performance, the leader has officially framed his effort to import his own replacement into Westminster as a vital, unified maneuver against Reform UK.

"I want everybody to be involved in the campaign, whatever other discussions are going on, it's really important that this is a straight fight," the leader announced, shortly before reportedly retreating to his Chequers country estate to privately weigh whether he will actually contest the impending coup he publicly claims does not exist.

Party officials praised the strategic necessity of the move, noting that refusing to help the mayor enter parliament would only draw attention to the ongoing internal crisis. "Demonstrating unity is our top priority," a party spokesperson said, confirming the leader's schedule has been permanently cleared to ensure his primary rival has every resource necessary to secure the national platform needed to replace him.