Cost of living and high street among top priorities for Makerfield voters, poll shows
A Makerfield focus group found cost of living, high street decline and public services were top concerns ahead of the June 18 byelection.
Intelligence analysis by GPT-5.4 Mini
Research shared with the Guardian suggests Makerfield voters are focused on everyday costs, local decline and honesty in politics. Labour’s Andy Burnham holds a narrow polling lead over Reform UK, but the result may hinge on who voters trust to deliver.
People in Makerfield said life feels expensive, the main shopping street needs help, and public services are not good enough. It is like a family saying the house needs fixing in a few places at once, and they want a builder who tells the truth and actually turns up.
Analysis
What voters said
A focus group of 112 Makerfield residents, commissioned by 38 Degrees and carried out by JL Partners, found that the cost of living was the issue people raised most often when asked what would improve life for them and their families. Respondents talked about household bills, food, fuel, council tax and the need for affordable housing.
Local decline and public services
When asked what their new MP should prioritise, about three in 10 mentioned the local environment and public services. That included the high street, roads, potholes and access to NHS services. One voter wanted a high street that could support local businesses rather than barbers, vape shops and mini markets.
Politics and trust
Immigration was raised as a priority by about one in eight respondents, especially among Reform voters. But a bigger theme was frustration with politics itself. Voters wanted boldness, but also honesty and follow-through. The polling shared with the Guardian showed Labour on 31.2% and Reform UK on 30.4%, with the Greens and Conservatives on 10.7% each. That makes the byelection a tight contest, with the result likely shaped as much by trust as by policy.
Key points
- A focus group of 112 Makerfield residents found the cost of living was the most common concern.
- People also raised declining high streets, potholes, roads, NHS access and other public services.
- Labour’s Andy Burnham was polling 31.2%, just ahead of Reform UK on 30.4%.
- Many voters said they wanted honesty, boldness and follow-through from politicians.
- Immigration was raised too, but mainly as a priority among Reform voters.
If the next MP focuses on lower everyday costs, better services and a stronger high street, the seat could become a model for responding to local frustration. Voters also said they want honesty, so a candidate who earns trust may be able to reconnect politics with people’s daily lives.
If politicians keep failing to address bills, local services and the state of the high street, the sense of frustration could deepen further. The research also suggests that distrust in politicians may depress confidence in whoever wins, especially if they are seen as treating the seat as a stepping stone.
