Wigan is now one of the most closely watched places in the country because of the Makerfield by-election on 18 June, and it has already begun, with much of the media camped out in Ashton-in-Makerfield.
Josh Simons is stepping down as MP for Makerfield so Andy Burnham can stand in the by-election and try to win the seat. If successful, Burnham would return to Westminster as one of the most high-profile figures in British politics. That return to Parliament would go far beyond a normal comeback. It would place Burnham back at the centre of Labour politics at a time when the party’s direction, and the leadership of Prime Minister Keir Starmer, is already under scrutiny.
That is why the by-election is being so closely watched. The Makerfield constituency in Wigan could end up playing a role in shaping the future of Labour leadership and, by extension, the position of the Prime Minister.
Reform UK and Nigel Farage also see it as a key test of support in former Labour strongholds. In the recent council elections, Labour failed to win a single seat while Reform took 24 out of 25, underlining how much the political landscape has shifted.
That is why Wigan is suddenly at the centre of British politics.
Why all the media are in Ashton-in-Makerfield
The media base themselves in Ashton-in-Makerfield for a simple reason.
It is the main town centre in the constituency. It is busy, easy to film in, and gives quick access to voters for interviews and reaction. It also stands out because it is the only place in the constituency with “Makerfield” in the name, so it becomes the natural starting point for national crews arriving on the ground. (Ince in Makerfield is not in the Makerfield constituency anymore, since the borders were changed. Only a small bit of Ince remains in the Makerfield constituency, the main bulk of it is Wigan).
Already on Friday morning, GB News, ITV and BBC Breakfast were all broadcasting from Ashton-in-Makerfield, with Channel 4 news the only broadcaster who spoke to people in Hindley, another part of the consituency. Locally, that has not gone unnoticed, with some residents joking that Ashton has “never been so popular”.
What Makerfield actually covers
According to the constituency description, Josh Simons represents people across a wide area of Wigan, including:
- Hindley
- Hindley Green
- Abram
- Platt Bridge
- Ashton
- Bryn
- Winstanley
- Worsley Mesnes
- Orrell
- Pickley Green
These areas are all part of the same parliamentary seat and all contribute to the final result on polling day. Also small parts of Billinge, Lowton and Golborne are in the constituency.
Why the focus on Ashton is misleading
Because Ashton is the easiest place for media to base themselves, coverage can become concentrated there. But the constituency is much wider. The result will be shaped across all of these communities, not just one town centre.
Hindley, Orrell, Abram, Platt Bridge and Winstanley all matter just as much, even if they receive less camera attention, but this will probably change over the coming weeks.
As polling day gets closer, expect more reporters, more TV crews and more political attention right across Makerfield. While Ashton has become the early base for the media, expect to see cameras all across the constituency.
With Reform UK launching its campaign there, and Restore Britain’s Rupert Lowe signalling his interest in Wigan with a post on social media, this by-election is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched local contests in the country for decades.
