On Bryn Street, Ashton, a woman in her 60s raises a flat palm just above her forehead when asked about the Makerfield by-election. 'I'm up to here with it,' she said. 'You're the third person to ask me about it today. I've had three leaflets, all exactly the same from one party, three. They've gone straight in the bin.' The woman, accompanied by her elderly mother, walks away toward the shops, politely but firmly rejecting any further enquiries about her voting intention.
It is fair to say 'by-election fatigue' is a clear and present condition on the streets of the Makerfield constituency, eight days ahead of the poll which could reshape the national political landscape. Other town centre visitors are more willing to have a quick chat, with the central question asked being 'are you voting for a person, a party, or as a protest?'
'I've not made up my mind yet'
Next to the seemingly never-ending town centre improvement works on Gerard Street, mother-of-three Andrea White is on a flying visit to the shops ahead of the school run. She had a light-hearted response to the question. 'I'll vote for any party who'll bring an M&S Foodhall to Ashton,' she said. 'It's not a bad town centre, it's got everything you need but something like that would be a real boost after they finish all these improvement works. There's been talk of it but honestly, I'd love that. I do visit quite often with my husband, there's a lovely little Spanish tapas restaurant.'
Andrea, who lives in Golborne, counts Andy Burnham as a neighbour. 'He lives in one of the bigger houses not far away,' she said. 'I've not made my mind up yet, it's between Labour and Reform, I'll decide next week.' Andrea's response is a typical one during the visit. Of around a dozen people spoken to, obviously an unscientific sample, all said they would be voting Labour or Reform, or were undecided between the two.
'It's a very clear choice for me'
Some voters we spoke to had made up their mind, though. Robert Leyland, 81, has lived in the area for more than 70 years. He said: 'I'm voting for Burnham as the person who will get the most done. He's young, he's got ideas and enthusiasm and he's got a track record.' Ashton resident Andrea Foster said her support was for the Reform UK party. 'I've backed them for a while now,' she said. 'It's time for something to change. There's too many people waiting for housing, they should be prioritised. We're only a small country and we should be looking after our own first. It makes me sad to see the library building in Ashton closed. It should be a place of support and learning, to keep our archives and history.'
Lauren Grounds, 37, from Bamfurlong, was enjoying an afternoon with her toddler niece. She said: 'The person I'm voting for is Andy Burnham. It's a very clear choice for me to make. He's the only one who's capable as far as I can see.' On Gerard Street, Kathleen Bradshaw, 71, said she was fed up with the ongoing works in Ashton town centre. 'It's going on until November, all this disruption for months and it won't change anything,' she said. Asked for her opinion on 'person, party or protest' she said she was 'keeping with Reform'. Barry Stevens, 81, from Bryn said he would be backing Labour as he 'saw them as the best option' and would continue to support them.
The full list of candidates standing in the Makerfield by-election includes: Jake Austin – Liberal Democrats; Count Binface – Count Binface Party; Andy Burnham – Labour and Co-operative Party; Dan Clarke – Libertarian Party; John Dyer – Independent; Ed Gemmell – Climate Party; Paul Gould – Independent; Howling Laud Hope – The Official Monster Raving Loony Party; Rob Kenyon – Reform UK; Robert Pownall – Independent; Rebecca Shepherd – Restore Britain; Sarah Wakefield – Green Party; Peter Ward – Rejoin EU Bring in PR; Michael Winstanley – Conservative Party.
