The Makerfield by-election is due to be held on Thursday, June 18
View of the library in Ashton-in-Makerfield(Image: Getty Images)
Sipping a beer on the terrace and watching a rugby league match. It was life as usual in Ashton, but talk of the upcoming by-election garnered groans and eye-rolls.
The people of Makerfield are already fed up with the media storm that has come following the resignation of their MP Josh Simons. But there is still one month to go until polling day (June 18).
Rugby League is a staple in this area of Greater Manchester and one man vying to become their next MP – Andy Burnham – recalled getting ‘battered’ on the rugby pitch in Ashton during his youth.
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So we paid a visit to Ashton Bears ARLFC, who were hosting Shevington for a midweek u12s match, to see if Mr Burnham could expect a similar fate at the by-election – and it’s safe to say he got a mixed review.
‘It will be really tight’
Club secretary Mark Webster described the by-election as a win-win. He believes Ashton would benefit from either a Reform UK or Labour MP.
The 49-year-old said: “I think it’s a bit of nonsense that Labour can take our vote for granted for the last 30+ years. Not once has anyone knocked on my door in that time.
“Funnily enough someone did come to knock on our door last night, which is nonsense. I hope people can see through all that.
“I think it will be really tight. There are a lot of people around here that like Andy Burnham, I’m not one of those. A lot of people are supporting Reform UK around here because we’ve been forgotten and left behind for so long.
“I think it’s good we’ve got two local people involved. So it will be nice that whoever gets in has an affinity to the local area.
“If Reform gets in we’ve finally got rid of Labour, and if Andy Burnham gets in the Prime Minister is going to be our MP. It’s a win-win for Ashton really.”
It is strongly suggested that Mr Burnham would mount a leadership challenge to Keir Starmer if he was to be elected as Makerfield MP. But as Mark points out, it is believed Robert Kenyon, Reform UK’s candidate, will be a strong contender in the by-election.
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Coun Kenyon was one of 24 Reform candidates elected to Wigan council. Reform almost enjoyed a clean sweep at the local elections, taking almost all of the 25 council seats up for grabs.
Around the clubhouse, parents and officials from Ashton Bears made it clear the club has always been about community and never relied on politics. There was a general consensus they wanted an MP who would put local issues first.
Sarah Williams’ concern was that if Mr Burnham would be elected, he would run off to Downing Street.
“I’m conflicted,” the 44-year-old said. “I’m not sure whether it’s a publicity stunt rather than genuine concern for the people of Ashton.
“You’ve got to question some things from Labour like the huge warehouses in Astley being built and the Wigan roller rink shutting down. There is no infrastructure to meet demand from the houses being built.
“The roads are getting worse and worse. I spend most of my day sitting in roadworks or traffic. There is loads of antisocial behaviour as well. A new MP needs to focus on local issues. That wouldn’t be the case with Burnham if he’s going for Prime Minister.”
Malcolm Simm added: “Whoever gets in never does what they say they will. I feel Ashton, particularly north Ashton, gets forgotten about.
“I want someone local. I think it would be good for Burnham if he went for Prime Minister, but I don’t think we’ll see it again if that’s the case. Don’t forget your roots, that’s the main thing. We just want honesty.”
Even some of the away fans from Shevington weighed in on the political debate. John Connor said: “Starmer should’ve let Burnham run for MP first time for Gorton and Denton. His hand has been forced to let him run for Makerfield.
“Burnham has to get past Reform who are doing well in this election. Then he would have to get past Wes Streeting and a few others that would throw their hand in for leadership.
“Politicians need to just do what they say they’re going to do, simple as that. Reform UK are good at being clear about what they want and are straight talking.”
As for club chairman of Ashton Bears, Steve Jones, he wants to build a women’s changing room to support his growing number of women’s teams.
He hopes all the by-election media attention will mean he gets more support and funding for his club -which has hundreds of members and a plethora of community activities going on for the benefit of locals.
The street where Burnham filmed his campaign video
Both Burnham and Kenyon have promoted themselves as a local candidate. The Reform councillor has been a lifelong Ashtonian, whereas Mr Burnham lives just down the road.
Mr Burnham launched his campaign as the local candidate who could take his successes as Greater Manchester mayor to Westminster and replicate it. The video was filmed in a residential area just outside Ashton town centre over the weekend.
It suggested the Labour by-election candidate was ever popular with locals – so we visited the street where it was filmed, Alderton Drive, to find out if that was the case .
Susan Monks believes the area has become a circus since Josh Simons resigned. She spotted Mr Burnham’s team at the end of her street over the weekend, but didn’t get an opportunity to chat with him.
The 71-year-old said: “When the MP was voted in, he was given the votes in good faith to serve the people of this community. No matter how I voted, I feel sorry that he has not valued his constituents by, at a whim, passing up his job.
“I feel if Andy Burnham gets in, I don’t feel he’s coming in for the right intentions. He’s coming in to be the leader. We’ve got a bizarre situation where we’ve got a Labour Prime Minister not backing a Labour by-election, knowing that if the Labour candidate gets in, he’s going for his job.
“I know the Reform UK candidate, he’s a very nice man and his heart is in the right place. He did put up against Josh Simons and lost by 5,000 votes last time.
“I just think the whole thing is sad. I think Josh Simons was well liked and very visible in the community. I think this will be a very close run election.”
Keith Davies was one of the Alderton Drive residents who spoke to Mr Burnham himself. The 68-year-old described him as ‘personable’ and ‘charismatic’.
“I wished him all the very best and I hope he will win it,” Keith said. “It’s not going to be a safe seat for him.
“He’s got the experience of being the mayor of Greater Manchester and whether we like it or not we are in Greater Manchester. You’ve got to look for the candidates and who you’d go for – I think a lot of people would go for him.
“It’s not a safe seat because Reform UK has already taken St Helens, which is just over the road from here. They’ve got a strong candidate here so it’s not a foregone conclusion.
“Yeah I’d like Burnham as Prime Minister, why not. I think everyone has lost faith in Keir and the Labour Party isn’t what it used to be.”
Keith has been a lifelong Labour voter but felt the party needed to go back to its roots to get voters back on side. The area has gone from being forgotten about to being caught in a media storm, much like the Gorton and Denton by-election back in February.
John, another Alderton Drive resident, said he fears going to the town centre in case he runs into media crews asking him questions about politics.
“I saw Burnham’s people walking down the street but I didn’t see him,” the 73-year-old. “I don’t know what he’s done to deserve my vote.
“He’s sorted out the buses and the clean air zone, but that’s it. What would he do for Ashton if he’s in Parliament? My concern is that he comes in, goes for leader and forgets about Ashton.”
The repeated issues that came up amongst locals were support for pensioners, poorly kept roads, problematic antisocial behaviour and a ‘broken’ NHS. Lorraine Collins is about to stop her role as an NHS nurse – so is passionate about getting that sorted out.
She said: “The NHS is very broken at the minute, it would be nice to not be worried that you’ll be there for nine hours. It would be nice to feel safe when you’re walking into Ashton town centre for a drink with friends.
“We had all given up on politics so I think this could get people out to vote again. My only reservation is that it’s the north south divide, I can’t see the south supporting him.
“I think Reform UK is for people who used to vote Labour who are disgruntled. But they’re not picking people with the qualifications to do the job. Just because someone is a great plumber doesn’t mean they’ll be good for representing the country or the constituency. I think Nigel Farage would become our version of Donald Trump.”
Her dad Joseph Brown added: “I don’t know if Reform should be given a try or not. We were told before Labour got in that there was going to be change. We’ve had Conservatives, we’ve had Labour before and even the Liberals before that. So maybe Reform is the change, but I don’t know.”
The polls will open to voters for the Makerfield by-election on Thursday 18 June. Currently, six political parties have named their candidates.
At the time of writing, these are the candidates named so far:
- Andy Burnham – Labour
- Robert Kenyon – Reform UK
- Michael Winstanley – Conservatives
- Rebecca Shepherd – Restore Britain
- Alan ‘Howlin’ Laud Hope -The Official Monster Raving Loony Party
- Chris Kennedy – Green Party
