Roads linking towns and villages in this English constituency display turquoise banners stating Makerfield needs Reform. Once central to Wigan’s coal-mining past and held by Labour MPs since the 1900s, the seat now sees Farage’s party gaining ground. With another Labour candidate, the constituency would likely shift to Reform. Key local concerns centre on environmental problems. Flooding on New Year’s Day 2025 displaced residents for months. In Bickershaw, a 25,000-tonne illegal waste dump persists, while limited public transport means hour-long journeys to Manchester. Even in flood-hit zones, Reform supporters back the party’s plans to scrap net zero targets and renewable subsidies. Local roofer Stefan Bilski plans to vote Reform after his Abram home flooded twice. He criticises Labour’s response to flooding and migration, noting his own migrant grandfather worked in the mines without claiming benefits. A Bickershaw pensioner, flooded twice and forced from her home for eight months, also leans toward Reform. She rejects climate links to the flooding and blames new housing developments. Immigration and dissatisfaction with Labour drive the shift more than other factors. Past remarks by Reform candidate Robert Kenyon have not deterred voters. Stephanie Doohan flies a Reform flag and supports the party for promised change, focusing on policies over personal views. She doubts Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham’s commitment to the area. A potential challenge comes from Rupert Lowe’s Restore Britain party, polling at 7 percent. In Hindley, some residents have lost faith in both Labour and Reform, preferring Restore Britain to act faster on rising prices. The Bryn community club now serves as Restore Britain’s campaign base, drawing volunteers including nurse Tracey Bailey. Former Labour voter Eileen Orrell plans to support Restore Britain, citing high-street decline as a symbol of neglect.
