Makerfield By-Election: Voters Confront ‘Broken Britain’ as Labour’s Burnham Targets Leadership
In the former mining towns and villages of north-west England, a profound sense of disillusionment permeates. Calls for 'change' and declarations of 'Britain is broken' are commonplace across the Makerfield constituency, now at the centre of an unusually consequential by-election.
National Stakes in a Local Contest
Scheduled for 18 June, this by-election transcends typical local politics. Labour’s candidate, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, has openly stated his intention to enter any Labour leadership contest against Sir Keir Starmer should he secure the seat. This transforms a local vote into a potential national inflection point.
Burnham faces his primary challenge from Robert Kenyon of Reform UK, a local plumber whose insurgent party echoes the sentiment that 'Britain is broken'. Burnham, in turn, asserts the country has been on 'the wrong path for 40 years'.
Divisions and Discontent on the Ground
Despite some localised economic regeneration, particularly in Ashton-in-Makerfield, the constituency exhibits stark internal divisions. While areas like Ashton, Orrell, and Winstanley show signs of prosperity, including above-average wages and high home ownership, the more deprived eastern areas — Platt Bridge, Abram, and Hindley — present a bleaker picture.
Residents in these eastern communities cite intractable problems. The notorious illegal waste dump in Bickershaw, festering since late 2024 despite complaints and a fire, symbolises a perceived systemic failure. Nicha Rowson, living near the site, has endured a two-year rat infestation, feeling it exemplifies a country where 'human beings aren't a priority'.
Similarly, Platt Bridge residents recount severe flooding incidents in 2015 and New Year’s Day last year, despite government claims of £2.65 billion invested in flood defences nationally. Dawn Royds, affected by the floods, remains convinced it will recur, stating, 'Britain isn't Great Britain anymore. We are definitely broken.'
Political Messaging and Campaign Strategies
Polls and research, including by the think tank More in Common, confirm 'broken' as the most frequent descriptor for Britain among the public. Reform UK has capitalised on this sentiment, with a party source noting, 'Most people just know that Britain is broken.'
Reform UK candidate Kenyon focuses on hyper-local concerns, such as opposing green-belt development, positioning himself as an authentic local. This contrasts with criticisms that Burnham is using Makerfield as 'a stepping stone' to No 10, a view echoed by some voters.
Burnham, while campaigning locally on issues like the cost of living and his mayoral record on public transport, is simultaneously engaging with national Labour figures and the wider electorate. His team reports direct engagement with undecided voters, particularly in wards where Reform UK gained ground in recent local elections, challenging Labour's historical dominance.
Other parties, including the Green Party, Conservatives, and Liberal Democrats, are also vying for votes. Restore Britain, a newer party led by former Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe, has seen unexpected support, including from Elon Musk on X, advocating for policies like a referendum on the death penalty.
Both Burnham and Reform UK campaign on re-industrialisation, echoing a nostalgia for Makerfield's coal-mining past. Mark Webster, secretary of Ashton Bears rugby league club, laments the decline, arguing for 'computer-science jobs' and 'military tech' rather than solely warehousing. 'This is about us and what we need,' Webster states, viewing the by-election as a unique opportunity.
University of Manchester political science professor Rob Ford characterises the contest as 'a proxy prime ministerial election'. A Burnham victory would validate his ability to defeat Reform UK, crucial for any Labour leader. Conversely, a Reform UK win would significantly disrupt Labour's plans and Burnham's ambitions, underscoring the high stakes involved in this confluence of local grievances and national political machinations.
