Andy Burnham, the now former Mayor of Greater Manchester, has been urged by constituents to honour his campaign commitments following his decisive victory in the Makerfield by-election. Residents in the Wigan constituency where he secured his win have expressed a clear expectation that he will deliver on the pledges made during his campaign, particularly concerning local issues.
Mr Burnham clinched a commanding 55% of the vote, achieving a majority of 9,000 over Robert Kenyon of Reform UK. This outcome saw Reform UK fall short of replicating their strong performances in recent local elections. The by-election was initiated by the resignation of Labour's Josh Simons, who stepped down to create an opportunity for Mr Burnham to return to Westminster.
Local sentiment highlights the importance of politicians following through on their promises. Carol Lamb, a 62-year-old resident from Ashton-in-Makerfield, emphasised the need for funds to be allocated effectively, particularly for social housing. She recounted how her son and son-in-law are currently living with her due to the inability to afford their own homes on minimum wage. Marcin Wysocki, who owns a chicken shop in Ashton-in-Makerfield, echoed this sentiment, stressing the need for politicians to deliver what they promised to the electorate.
While Reform UK had initially expressed optimism about their prospects in Makerfield, Mr Burnham's established popularity in the area provided a source of confidence for the Labour Party. He previously secured 66% of the vote in the 2024 Greater Manchester mayoral election. Mr Burnham's return to Parliament is widely anticipated to be a precursor to a challenge for the leadership of the Labour Party, a prospect he alluded to during his campaign by stating he would "take the fight as high as I can".
For his new constituents, however, the enduring strength of Mr Burnham's political standing will depend on his capacity to bring about the changes he committed to during the election period. Darren, 54, from Wigan, praised Mr Burnham's personal appeal and his work supporting Hillsborough disaster survivors, viewing it as a counter to the perceived divisiveness of other campaigns. Stephen Tiller, 58, expressed his satisfaction with the result, recalling a positive personal interaction with Mr Burnham during the campaign. However, Jyoti Broadhurst, a 63-year-old shop owner and self-described "disgruntled Tory" who voted Reform as a protest, expressed general scepticism about politicians fulfilling promises, anticipating an Andy Burnham-led government would be "quite disastrous".
The focus for Mr Burnham now shifts from campaigning to demonstrating tangible progress on issues such as housing and the jobs market. The expectations of his constituents are clear: they want to see concrete action and delivery on the pledges that secured his return to the national political stage.