Makerfield voters weigh Burnham's first 100 days
Nearly 100 days into Andy Burnham's premiership, a return to Makerfield asks whether the goodwill from his by-election win still holds.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Nearly 100 days into Andy Burnham's premiership, a return to Makerfield has tested whether the goodwill from his by-election win still holds. The constituency is a patchwork of towns and villages in the north west. It turned to Reform in May's local elections before Burnham reclaimed it in a by-election that rooted him in Number 10.
At Stubshaw Cross, a community centre and sports bar where Burnham coordinated his by-election campaign, local people recalled a campaign that arrived 'en masse from nowhere' and left quickly. One said the seat had been one of Labour's hardest to hold. The same person described a divisive political environment across Wigan Borough, saying that a few years ago people were clapping the NHS during Covid and now politics had become almost an 'us and them divide'.
Burnham's win did not make the issues that drove voters towards Reform disappear. Immigration remains a concern for some. Martin said asylum-seeking hotels in the centre of Wigan were a big issue and that not enough was being done. He said Reform's policies looked better 'reading between the lines', but added that he would not vote for Reform.
At Ashton FC, where Burnham gave his victory rally, attention moved to challenges beyond the constituency. One voter said Burnham's toughest challenge would be dealing with Donald Trump. Another said politicians sometimes have to 'bite your tongue and play for the long game'.
Cost of living was also central. Burnham's interventions have been described as giving 'breathing space', but businesses say the squeeze is real. At the Holtz Arms in Billinge, pub owner Ian Mittie called for a cut in VAT for hospitality. He said running costs were 'crushing' and that a VAT reduction was 'the one stone he can take off our shoulders'.
A focus group of voters gave a mixed verdict on Burnham's first three months. For some, being 'King of the North' is one thing and being Prime Minister another. One said he still seemed 'quite parochial' and had to look wider than Makerfield.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, grouped by how many channels reported each one. Select a dot to see the source excerpt.
| Claim |  |
|---|---|
| Only on one channel | |
| A pub owner called for a cut in VAT for the hospitality sector. | |
| Sky News revisited Makerfield about 100 days into Burnham's term as prime minister. | |
| Some voters in Wigan said hotels housing asylum seekers were a major local issue. | |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
Sky News anchored the report on a return to Makerfield and a focus group of local voters. It measured Burnham's first 100 days through campaign locations, concerns about immigration and cost of living, and criticism that he remains parochial. The tone was measured and voter-led.
- “Just in this part of the world as well, immigration has been a big issue.”
- “He still seems quite parochial in a way. You have to look wider than Makerfield.”
- “The big ask for hospitality is a reduction in VAT.”
Who was on air
People and organisations each channel put on air while covering this story. Channels' own presenters and reporters are not listed. Names as transcribed, and the list can miss people.
- 10:29 BST
Ian Mittie, owns this pub
Sky News Today with Gareth Barlow · Thu 22 Oct
Broadcast Timeline
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