Makerfield Constituents Express Discontent with Labour Amid Scandal Fallout
Business owners in Ashton-in-Makerfield have accused the Labour-led Wigan council of failing to listen to their concerns, as a bleak mood settles over the constituency following political scandals in Westminster. This sentiment reflects broader disillusionment with the Labour Party and its leader, Keir Starmer, in a traditionally safe seat.
Political Disillusionment in a Red Wall Stronghold
Makerfield, a semi-rural area in Greater Manchester, has been a Labour stronghold for over a century, rooted in its coal mining history. However, recent events have shaken voter confidence. In September 2024, incoming Labour MP Josh Simons echoed Starmer's promises of change and integrity in his maiden Commons speech. Seventeen months later, Starmer is embroiled in a scandal that has led to the resignation of two key No 10 figures, threatening his premiership and undermining those principles.
Simons, a Cabinet Office minister and staunch ally of the prime minister, won the seat under a Labour landslide masterminded by former chief of staff Morgan McSweeney. Yet, constituents now voice frustration. Clare Winterburn, a 42-year-old baker, stated, "We voted Labour and we shouldn’t have. Keir Starmer doesn’t do anything but U-turns and couldn’t make a decision if one slapped him in the face." She added that McSweeney seemed a scapegoat and expressed support for Reform UK, saying, "It’s time for Reform. We’ve tried all the others and they’ve all been crap."
Scrutiny and Local Impact
Simons himself faces scrutiny over reports he commissioned an investigative report into journalists probing the funding of Labour Together, a pro-Starmer thinktank. He denied this, claiming it was to "look into a suspected illegal hack." Meanwhile, local businesses in Ashton-in-Makerfield are grappling with the effects of a £6.6m levelling up fund from the Conservative government, aimed at revamping the high street, and a further £20m under Labour's "pride in place" scheme over the next decade.
Despite these investments, business owners report disruption hurting their takings. One shopkeeper, who wished to remain anonymous, accused the council of indifference, saying, "You put things across to them and they look at you like you’ve walked into their living room on Christmas Day and pissed on their kid’s Xbox." Fran, co-owner of The Cupcakery, lost over £3,000 in revenue last summer due to scaffolding covering her shop, forcing children to walk in the road. She refused to vote in the last election, stating, "They’re all a joke – they’re all liars," and noted similar feelings among friends due to a lack of trust in government.
Shifting Political Landscape
Labour's share of voters in Makerfield has dropped by 23 percentage points since 2001, with Conservative support rising post-Brexit—65% of the constituency voted to leave the EU. In the 2024 election, Reform UK came within 5,399 votes of Labour, highlighting a rightward shift. Labour MPs worry this white working-class, socially conservative seat could punish the government at the next election if delivery falters.
David Baxter, of a local community charity, praised Simons for being "really connected" to the area but acknowledged he "may be in a minority across the country." He added, "I do feel people feel politicians, across any party, are disconnected from their communities." The prospect of a strong Reform UK vote in May's local elections in Wigan, where a third of seats are contested, causes anxiety for voluntary bodies.
Public Sentiment and Future Concerns
Residents express broader frustrations. Builder Carl Pilling, 56, called for Starmer to go, complaining about small boats, the NHS, and the Mandelson saga, saying, "Everything’s just a shambles – it’s ridiculous. They’re all just looking after one another." Callum Freeman, 29, who refused to vote for the first time in 2024, worried about Reform's rise, stating, "Last time I didn’t because it doesn’t seem to matter. Why can’t it be about making the country better?"
As the Mandelson fallout continues, the bleak mood in Makerfield underscores a crisis of confidence in Labour, with constituents questioning the party's integrity and effectiveness, potentially reshaping the political landscape in this historic red wall seat.
