1 week Ago By [email protected] (Liam Thorp)
On the streets of Runcorn there is depression and disillusionment ahead of a vote of national importance It is a bright, clear and sun-soaked day in the centre of Runcorn, but the mood of those going about their daily business is considerably gloomier than the weather on offer today. It is fair to say this industrial town has seen better days. Once considered a bustling and busy place, the arrival of out of town shopping centres and internet retail has led to a steady decline in its traditional town centre, with plenty of closed down shops, empty streets and deeply frustrated locals.
The might of the city of Liverpool may only be 15 miles away, but it feels a lot more than that right now. Soon, the people of this fading town on the banks of the River Mersey will have someone new to vent their frustrations to. On May 1, they will be asked to head to the polls to vote in a new Member of Parliament to represent the recently established constituency covering Runcorn and neighbouring Helsby.
The election was called after Mike Amesbury, the former Labour MP, resigned from his position after being convicted of assaulting a constituent on a drunken night out in Frodsham last year. Amesbury's fall from grace has presented a potential headache for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer who is now facing a thorny first by-election of what has been a difficult start to life for his new Labour government. Bookmakers are continuing to slash the odds that Nigel Farage's Reform Party could pick up the seat, with William Hill's latest projections giving the right-wing party a 73% probability of securing victory next month.
But what do the people of Runcorn think and what will be the key issues on which they base their votes? It is a Monday mid-morning and in the car park of Runcorn's old town, a group of taxi drivers are stood waiting for a fare. Judging on the limited activity around the main shopping area, they could be waiting a while. If these drivers are anything to go by, Labour could be in serious danger of losing what should be a traditional heartland seat.
"I'm not bothered about immigration," says one driver, "it is illegal immigration I am bothered about. There are people here living on the streets who get nothing." He says Reform's hard-lined stance on immigration is one reason he will back them on May 1.
When asked what Runcorn needs, the cab driver, who asked not to be named, has a fairly extreme response: "It needs blowing up and starting again. There is more tumbleweed than people around here. The internet has destroyed towns like this.
" He is one of several people who told the ECHO they plan to vote Reform on May 1. The driver adds: "We need someone who is a bit more visible - it feels like they get the position and then we don't hear from them again." Interestingly, while this voter may not be impressed with former MP Mike Amesbury's Parliamentary efforts, he is less concerned by the street assault that saw him lose his position.
"It's up to him what he does, I'm not bothered," he adds. "Everyone is human aren't they. I didn't really know anything about him until what happened in Frodsham.
I didn't even know who he was." The taxi driver is not the only one less concerned about what happened on that drunken night out. "I can understand he was probably under a lot of pressure, we all snap at certain times," says David Redhead.
"I am more bothered about what he didn't do as an MP. He wasn't exactly very useful for this constituency." The 76-year-old has lived in Runcorn for four decades and feels disillusioned about the state of the town and - more broadly - what politicians are offering.
"The town centre is a disgrace really, all the empty shops - all we do seem to get is takeaways," he laments, adding: "Runcorn needs a new town centre." So would he favour an MP from Labour or Reform to revitalise this town? "Neither of them," says David with a look of disgust, "I don't like either of them." While the race to represent Runcorn certainly feels like a two-horse one, there are many other parties and Mike and Kathy Hodkinson will be supporting the Liberal Democrats .
This is not unexpected as they are retired local councillors of the party. The husband and wife team are doing some shopping in between campaigning. "I think Labour (in government) have left a lot of people disillusioned," says Kathy, "but anyone with a shred of decency shouldn't be voting for Reform though.
" Her husband adds: "Labour have obviously had financial difficulties to come into, but I think they could have aimed for the richer, rather than the poorer people and the disabled." But could a Liberal Democrat campaign make it more likely that Reform will win on May 1? "Not necessarily," adds Mike. "We are attacking Reform and want to offer an alternative to disillusioned Labour voters.
I understand there is a concern about immigration, but do people really want Donald Trump-style politics in this country?" One man who clearly doesn't fancy Farage's politics in this town shouts 'F*** Reform' as he walks past, not stopping to add any further thoughts. Elsewhere in the car park another husband and wife team are heading to the shops. They disagree on the severity of what Amesbury did when he punched constituent Paul Fellows five times.
"Mike Amesbury did a lot of good work, but he just had a pint too many didn't he?," says the man (both asked not to be named), to which his wife responds: "That's no excuse, you can't go around thumping people. It was violent and nasty." What they do agree on is that the Runcorn in which they were born and bred is in steep decline.
While the husband says he could be tempted by Reform in the by-election, his partner feels disconnected to any political party. "I feel let down by any of them," she explains with a sigh. "It is sad but I don't think I will vote for anybody.
I think there are a lot of people around here who feel like that." She adds: "Everything is more expensive. We are pensioners and had no fuel allowance, bills are going up.
It is all broken, whatever the party." A short walk away in Regent Street, once the bustling heart of Runcorn's old town, there is no one who feels more depressed by the current state of things than David Moors. The 64-year-old has spent his entire life here and feels desperate at the decline this town has endured.
"I have lived here all my life, look at the state of the place," he says, gesturing to the eerily quiet streets around him. "I used to love it, it used to be busy, it is a ghost town now. We get nothing here.
" Referring to Regent Street specifically, he adds: "This street used to be bustling. This town used to have all kinds going on. It's dead now, there is nothing for youths, which is why they cause havoc in the town - they have got nowhere to go.
" But despite the frustration and sadness, David still has deep feeling for his home town. "This is my home," he adds, "I still love Runcorn. I am just sad at what has happened to it.
I don't think the politicians are doing anything for Runcorn. I would be open to listening to someone who would do something." While political feelings may differ, it is clear from those we spoke to on the streets of Runcorn that there is a strong sense that this town has been forgotten about.
That feeling comes despite a major Reconnecting Runcorn plan that local leaders hope will revitalise the town centre - including a vision for a health and education hub, new town centre housing and the regeneration around the Bridgewater Canal. Whatever plans are on the table, whoever wins next month's election is going to have a difficult task convincing the people of this tired town that a better future is genuinely possible. The full list of candidates standing in the Runcorn by-election on May 1 are: Catherine Anne Blaiklock (English Democrats) Dan Clarke (Liberal Party) Chris Copeman (Green Party) Paul Duffy (Liberal Democrats) Peter Ford (Workers Party) Howling Laud Hope (Monster Raving Loony Party) Sean Houlston (Conservatives) Jason Philip Hughes (Volt UK) Alan McKie (independent) Graham Harry Moore (English Constitution Party) Paul Andrew Murphy (Social Democratic Party) Sarah Pochin (Reform) Karen Shore (Labour) John Stevens (Rejoin EU) Michael Williams (independent).
