‘Most residents in Makerfield have come to the conclusion that Westminster doesn’t work for towns like ours’, the Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham writes for the Sunday Mirror
Over the last month, I’ve had thousands of conversations.
On doorsteps and through front windows. Walking down the road and in the supermarket aisles during the weekly shop.
Some people want to tell me that they’ll be voting Labour in next week’s election. These are the conversations that give you the extra energy to knock on a few more doors before stopping for a cuppa.
Others have stopped me on the road to tell me why they won’t be supporting us on Thursday. I’ve asked them why, listened to their concerns and taken the time to try and understand where we don’t agree.
And a lot of people have told me they haven’t made their minds up yet. The majority of them will tell me that they’ve voted Labour before – some in recent elections, others not for a long time. This time, they’re on the fence.
But there’s one message I’ve heard time and time again, no matter who they’re voting for. ‘It’s broken’.
Most residents in Makerfield have come to the conclusion that Westminster doesn’t work for towns like ours. That too many politicians in London don’t understand or care about communities like ours. I agree with them.
Almost a decade ago, I left Parliament to stand to be Mayor of Greater Manchester because I saw decisions being taken by a handful of people in London who couldn’t point to Makerfield on a map, let alone ever set foot here. I knew that it wasn’t in Westminster where things should be decided – but in Wigan, Winstanley and Worsley Mesnes.
A decade later, I’m so proud of what we’ve been able to achieve here. A bus network brought under public control, working for people instead of profit. A fair deal for the north during the Covid-19 pandemic when the Conservatives tried to shortchange us. Standing shoulder to shoulder with the Hillsborough families and demanding justice for the victims.
But why should we have to fight every step of the way for these victories? Fight to get affordable and reliable public transport. Fight to get the financial support we were owed during lockdown. Fight to get justice for those denied it for decades.
I know why – and so do the people of Makerfield. It’s broken.
Westminster has refused to listen to towns like ours for decades. Successive governments turn a deaf ear to the things that matter most to us – decent jobs, affordable homes, safe streets and opportunities for our young people.
If I’m fortunate enough to be given the opportunity to represent our community in next week’s election, I’ll make sure they hear us loud and clear.
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Last week I sat down with Ian – the landlord of one of the sixty pubs and clubs across Makerfield who would benefit from my plan to cut business rates. In every town and village across the country, it’s pubs like these that are the lifeblood of local communities – places for people to come together and feel connected to their neighbours. I’ll keep fighting to get a fair deal for small businesses and standing up for our high streets.
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