Jim Wilson, 61, spoke immediately after voting in the Makerfield by-election at the St Aidan's Parish Centre polling station in Winstanley. "I've done the deed – now this bloody circus can end," he said.
Minutes earlier, Reform candidate Rob Kenyon, accompanied by party leader Nigel Farage, cast his ballot amid a frenzy of photographers. Sharp elbows vied for the best vantage point as bemused voters waited to mark their X.
Wilson expressed mixed feelings about his neighbourhood becoming the epicentre of political discourse over the 30 days since former MP Josh Simons resigned. "It's been funny seeing some of the coverage on telly," he said. "It's not often you see the streets you grew up on the six o'clock news day after day, but I'll be glad when we get back to normal."
The by-election attracted interventions from unlikely figures including Carol Vorderman, Ant Middleton, and Hugh Grant. On polling day, the #dogsatpollingstations hashtag resurfaced, with a giant St Bernard named Indie charming voters at St Aidan's.
Driving into the constituency at 9:30am, activists in rosettes were visible everywhere, with motorists beeping horns in support. On Warrington Road, a Reform UK open-top double-decker bus was parked, later seen at different locations.
Just after 12:30pm, Andy Burnham arrived at his nerve centre at Stubshaw Cross Sports Club, greeted by national and international press. Angela Rayner and Lucy Powell were also spotted, while Restore Britain leader Rupert Lowe handed out leaflets nearby.
The full list of 17 candidates includes Jake Austin (Liberal Democrats), Count Binface, Andy Burnham (Labour and Co-operative Party), Dan Clarke (Libertarian), John Dyer (Independent), Ed Gemmell (Climate Party), Paul Gould (Independent), Howling Laud Hope (Monster Raving Loony Party), Rob Kenyon (Reform UK), Robert Pownall (Independent), Rebecca Shepherd (Restore Britain), Sarah Wakefield (Green Party), Peter Ward (Rejoin EU), and Michael Winstanley (Conservative).
Makerfield's long election campaign month in the limelight is about to end. It's been a wild ride.
