In a handful of former mining towns and villages in northwest England, residents express deep frustration with the state of the UK. Common refrains include "Britain is broken," "we are forgotten," and calls for "change." This is the Makerfield constituency, where a consequential by-election on 18 June will not only choose a new MP but could also determine the next prime minister.
Labour's candidate, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, has pledged that if elected, he would seek to enter any Labour leadership contest to replace Sir Keir Starmer. His main rival is Robert Kenyon, a local plumber standing for Reform UK, an insurgent party also aiming for power. Reform UK claims Britain is "broken," while Burnham says the country has been on "the wrong path for 40 years."
Yet conversations with voters, residents, business owners, and campaigners reveal a more nuanced mood. At Rose's Cafe in Ashton-in-Makerfield, owner Yasmin Ratcliffe is optimistic. With the council spending £6.6 million on town regeneration, her business is thriving. "I feel like it's a much better town in Ashton," she says. "It's a lot busier than we thought, so the team's growing."
Chris Ratcliffe, founder of motorcycle manufacturer Langen, also sees potential. "There's an element of me that wants to prove a point that we can do it here," he says. However, Manchester's rising tide hasn't lifted all boats. The constituency is divided between affluent western areas like Ashton, Orrell, and Winstanley, and more deprived eastern areas like Platt Bridge, Abram, and Hindley.
In Bickershaw, an illegal dump has piled up since late 2024, despite complaints, a fire, and a criminal investigation. Nicha Rowson, who lives nearby, has endured rats and a damaged home. "The rats were a big thing," she says. She feels the mess symbolizes a country that is not working. In Platt Bridge, Dawn Royds suffered severe flooding twice in a decade. "We are definitely broken," she says.
Polling by More in Common finds "broken" is the most common word Britons use to describe the country. Yet paradoxically, people have high trust in their neighbors. Reform UK's candidate Kenyon focuses on hyper-local issues like opposing green-belt housing, pitching himself as a "normal" local. On the street, Lewis Ash says, "I don't want it to be a stepping stone for Andy Burnham." Daniel Jones adds he is skeptical of all candidates.
Burnham balances three conversations: with locals, Labour MPs, and the nation. He highlights his record as mayor, such as cheaper bus fares. His team says he embraces difficult conversations with voters seeking change. While Reform UK and Burnham signs dominate, other candidates include Green Sarah Wakefield, Conservative Michael Winstanley, and Liberal Democrat Jake Austin.
Makerfield's by-election reflects a national struggle over the meaning of "broken Britain" and who can fix it.