A 'winner takes all' local election is approaching in St Helens, yet an air of indifference pervades the town. Voters will head to the polls next Thursday, with 46 of the 48 council seats up for grabs. Labour has controlled the authority since 2010, most recently securing 29 seats in the 2022 election. However, this year, predictions suggest a tough test for Labour, as rival parties seek to exploit national difficulties. Nigel Farage has publicly identified St Helens as a target for Reform UK.
Historical Context and Current Decline
St Helens, a Merseyside town historically known as the birthplace of the modern glass industry, once thrived with dozens of coal mines providing thousands of jobs and fuelling local industries. Today, much of that heavy industry has vanished, leaving the town centre looking tired. Numerous retail units are closed or boarded up, replaced by vape shops, takeaways, and charity shops. Shoppers have been drawn away to out-of-town retail parks offering free parking, while residents struggle with the rising cost of living. There is a prevailing sense that the town has been left behind, with little optimism that any political party can reverse the decline.
Regeneration Efforts and Skepticism
Regeneration is underway, including the demolition of the old Hardshaw shopping centre, with plans for a new market hall, hotel, homes, shops, and a large transport interchange. Council leaders describe this as a fresh start, but on the streets, doubt persists over what can be achieved. Some residents feel Labour has become complacent, taking traditional support for granted. When asked, most residents showed little interest in the upcoming election, many stating they had not considered who to vote for or whether to vote at all.
Voices from the Community
At the bus depot, Frank Mills, 81, a lifelong Conservative voter, remarked: 'St Helens has always been Labour. From the 1890s, it used to be the most industrialised town in the world. We had the pits and the glass makers. My dad was a miner. But I think the town has been in decline, the whole country has been in decline. But I think St Helens will come back. We don't make anything anymore. When I was a kid, we didn't buy anything made abroad—buses, cars, electrical items. I don't like or dislike Keir Starmer. A lot of things are beyond his control. When times are globally bad, no one can make a difference.'
Carl Holden, owner of the St Helens Darts Shop, recently relocated to the town centre. He said: 'The town is struggling. I think the centre has to be made a bit smaller. You look at Duke Street, everything is empty; Westfield Street, they're all shut now. It needs to be made smaller, more modern. Smaller but better, to bring people into the town. There should also be free parking. You have the retail parks nearby with two hours free parking, but you come into the centre and you get a ticket.' Carl, who also ran the darts academy where Luke Littler honed his skills, added: 'I'm bringing in 1,000 people every week, 70% not from St Helens. But if shops keep shutting, there's less footfall. It's a difficult job. I don't know how the council can achieve it. It needs investment, but where does that come from? I don't think they've always done a good job over the years. There are jobs that have gone, people are disillusioned. It's a tough job.'
Outside the former Burchills Bakers, Carl Fisher, 59, commented: 'There used to be queues down the road here; the pies were very popular. But now another bit of St Helens is gone. It's a shame. Hopefully, people will vote on local issues. I know Farage is trying to make it all about Starmer. But I was brought up to vote for the person who does the most good, or who you think will do the most good, not a political party. Everything is mixed up at the moment. There's not a lot anyone can do about it. I've not got much faith in any of the parties. I will say one party leader in particular seems to be in it for themselves. That's a sad fact.'
Andrea Smith, 39, said she was considering Reform but wasn't certain: 'I think Labour has been taking people for granted. I've looked at Reform, but I'm not sure they're the answer. I doubt anyone is. Just look around; a lot needs to be done, and I doubt any of them have the answers. If you want to go shopping, you go to the Trafford Centre or Liverpool. I know there's no money in the pot these days, so I think whoever wins faces a difficult job.'
Conclusion
With a week of campaigning left, it appears that all parties face an uphill battle to convince the people of St Helens that they are the answer to the town's challenges.
