Public evidence shows that Andy Burnham was the Labour and Co-operative Party candidate in the Makerfield by-election, and that HOPE not hate Ltd was a registered Electoral Commission third-party campaigner. (wigan.gov.uk) HOPE not hate’s own archived posts said its Makerfield effort delivered 13,000 letters and made a “vital difference” in the contest, and a related campaign page said Burnham was the “clear tactical vote to stop Reform UK in Makerfield” while noting Hope Not Hate was distributing Carol Vorderman’s letter to voters. (livequote.org) That supports the gist that Hope Not Hate spent campaign resources in a way that helped Burnham beat Reform, but the public record I found frames it as anti-Reform tactical campaigning rather than a formal spending return explicitly itemized as money spent “in favour of” Burnham. (livequote.org) Sources: Electoral Commission registration for HOPE not hate Ltd; Wigan Council statement of persons nominated; HOPE not hate archived posts; Forward Democracy fundraiser page. (search.electoralcommission.org.uk)