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LBC's Liam Gotting is on the ground in Makerfield for what could be the most pivotal by-election in British history. With Keir Starmer teetering on the brink, Andy Burnham has spotted his chance to return to Westminster and challenge for leadership of the Labour party - and the country. But will an area that just delivered a clean sweep of Reform councillors vote for a red rosette - even if it's worn by the Mayor of Manchester? Listen to the full show on the all-new LBC App: https://app.af.lbc.co.uk/btnc/thenewlbcapp #ukpolitics #makerfield #LBC LBC is the home of live debate around news and current affairs in the UK. Join in the conversation and listen at https://www.lbc.co.uk/ Sign up to LBC’s weekly newsletter here: https://l-bc.co/signup
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0:00
This is Ashton in Makerfield in Greater Manchester, the current centre of the political universe
0:06
But just how much do the people who live here care about the upcoming by-election
0:12
I'm not politically minded, to be honest. It's a bit pointless interviewing me
0:16
I'm not really bothered either way, whoever gets in. I'm not sure what's going on. I've no idea who I'm going to vote for yet
0:22
Running it for the shelves. You don't bother about proper public. As people know, it is. It's a seat that Labour have held since the constituency was created more than 40 years ago
0:38
But just a couple of weeks ago, Reform won all eight of the local council seats that were up for grabs here
0:44
and it's become a prime target for Nigel Farage's party. If Andy Burnham wins, it'll almost certainly be carried on the shoulders of Labour backbench MPs into number 10
0:54
But if reform win, it'll send a shockwave into the hearts of the Labour government that they've not felt yet
1:00
It's personal now. It's here. Politics for me and probably a lot of people in Australia, it's down south
1:07
That's where it is. That's where they make the decisions. It doesn't matter because whatever they'll do, they'll do
1:12
Now, it's on my doorstep. I feel very differently about it. We've come for a cup of tea here at Hell's Kitchen on the local high street here in Ashton
1:21
It's run by Helen Lawson, and she's been telling us a little bit about the local area
1:25
It's a nice little town, isn't it? Yeah, it's a lovely little area. There's a lot of nice places to go
1:31
Shopping, right, is practically everything you need. Even if, like, you get, obviously, when they don't race
1:36
you get a lot of people, obviously, from out of town coming in. Quite a few people have run a boat, voting for, is it, reform
1:44
Yeah. And then on the other side, Nigel Farage. I mean, I've only heard bits about him when my dad followed him
1:51
They were big supporters of him, but I'd say... I don't... I don't... I don't bother with it
1:58
But if I was gonna vote, I'd vote for a reform. Why What is it that would then make you lean that way do you think I don know Is it just hearsay what you heard Yeah yeah basically Do you think you will vote in the by I don know
2:13
Small businesses on high streets like this have struggled for many years
2:17
It's always a big talking point when it comes to any by-election. We're going to pop into the local Ashton Pound shop here
2:22
to find out what it's like being a business on a high street in 2026
2:27
Make-up used to be very good. A long time ago, behind there was a market
2:31
people gathering from all over Wigan and St. Lawrence and everybody else
2:38
Now since the dinghy is closed, the market is closed. There's not many people around to go
2:45
Well, if there's one thing that this part of Greater Manchester is known for, it's pies, butter pies, steak pies, and of course, the famous Wigan kebab
2:55
which is a meat and potato pie served inside a bread bar
3:01
Oh, my God. Rising costs are massive. You know, wages are big, running costs, electricity
3:08
You know, even my bin bills, 400 quid a month, which is just madness. You know, I've been hit 40 years and rising costs has never, ever been like this
3:16
Obviously, Makefield's sort of become the centre of the universe. Oh, it's the idea of the universe at the moment, yeah, with what's going on
3:21
I don't think people quite understand what is going on because if he wins this by-election, he's going to become the future prime minister
3:29
because basically he's got 80% of the vote, 90% of the vote off the Labour Party
3:35
So he could be walking into being the Prime Minister. What do you think about Bernie
3:39
He's been in. He's a smashing bloke. There's no words and graces about him. He wants to make politics, I said it, be in Londonised all the time
3:46
He wants it to bring up north, which can only be better for us all. He has got some good policies, which I've read some of his policies
3:54
He's done loads for Manchester. you know he's been in since 2017 you know that's creditability for anybody you know it's 10 years
4:01
as lord mercer brilliant what do you think generally about um reform reform the lad what's
4:08
representing reform is a local lad he self he gonna be an hard lad but he not got the background of the political information you know like Andy has They probably all the same aren they Reforms jumped on the bandwagon they get rid of the foreigners
4:23
because everyone's sick of it, aren't they? There's too many coming in, not racist, the ones with hard-working, aren't working
4:27
our taxpayers going in the hotels, so reforms jumped on the bandwagon, that
4:31
But I don't think they can do it. They'll put taxes up, they'll do everything the same
4:36
The other one seems better, Mr. Orbritton, His views seem spot on
4:41
Do you know what I mean? They might not be, but to me, his views seem spot on. But none of them have got the political knowledge
4:48
or stability of what Andy has. A lot of people would say that's a benefit, though
4:53
because people are sick of career politicians. I think everybody on round here
4:59
he'll go to London, he'll forget us. I don't think he will. He lives just around corner
5:05
I don't think he's going to do that. You know, there must be some benefits to having the Prime Minister from your own town
5:12
So we've just come out of the rain into the Britain Community Centre here. This is supposedly the HQ for Restore Britain, but there doesn't seem to be anybody here
5:22
While we're waiting I suppose we may as well throw a few darts
5:37
No Luke the nook but give it a go. I suppose the big question is, is Makerfield going to choose red or blue
6:02
My name is Michael Harrison, I work at City Fitness. When you see people saying, vote Labour
6:12
I think, are they having a laugh here? I live in a bit of a rough area
6:17
So then when I looking around I think it just getting rougher isn it So I don get how it getting better It not getting better for my liking I don know I just want change I just want good things to happen
6:28
more positive. More things for the kids. You know what I mean
6:33
Where I live, I live in Leeds, so like Pennington Park, my basketball court is my normal play
6:37
They had nets on, now they took the nets off. I don't get what they're doing. There's nothing for the kids
6:41
I'll tell you what it is for the kids. There's drugs on the system outside on the streets and that's what's taken up everywhere
6:46
And it seems like the rough areas getting rougher quicker. One, two
6:51
Nice. Andy Burton. Don't bump into me. Is he Labour
7:01
Yeah. That's what I mean. And that's why I got brainwashed my whole life. Vote Labour, vote Labour
7:06
And then, well, look at it. Now we've got, what's he called, our Prime Minister
7:10
I don't even know his name. I hate him. Starmer. Starmer, I hate him. Cowardless. Coward
7:14
And that's what we're breeding now. Cowards in England. Where is the men? nice
7:19
I know it sounds crazy but I'm a Rupert what's it called again Rupert Lowe
7:24
Rupert Lowe fan but in my head I know it sounds crazy this
7:28
but I think what if you just didn't vote everyone stopped voting now you'll probably
7:32
won't put that on there now but if everyone stopped voting then count the votes up so I would vote reform
7:40
like now in this election just so but then because I've heard stuff
7:45
that people said if you restart won't be able to win it yet. They'll have to win it next year
7:49
so then I don't want to tell all my left-hand right-hand moves, but I've heard, so you have to vote with form now
7:54
so they get it for a year and then get with Starr in. Do you like Nigel Farage
8:02
Is he the guy for reform, Mark? Yeah. Yeah, yeah. I don't mind him, but he's a coward
8:06
He goes back on his words. Now, if I've seen him, whoa, he'd be like Jim Carrey and me, myself and Irene
8:14
I tell you, you have to, you can't. If you're not a man of your word, what are you a man of
8:18
The future of number 10, the future of the Labour Party, and therefore the future direction of this country
8:24
could well be decided by the roughly 75,000 people who live in this small part of the world
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