“They ignored Makerfield for 40 years.” That’s the explosive message from Reform UK candidate Robert Kenyon as Nigel Farage’s party ramps up pressure on Labour in one of its traditional strongholds. Kenyon says voters are fed up with being “taken for granted” while local communities struggle with migration pressures, overcrowded HMOs and stretched public services. Now Reform believes the political tide is finally turning… and Labour’s grip on working-class Britain may be slipping fast.

Reform’s Makerfield by-election candidate declares ‘tide is changing’ against Labour: ‘They’ve been ignored for 40 years!’

Reform UK’s by-election candidate for Makerfield has declared the “tide is changing” against the Labour Government, accusing the party of “taking the people for granted”.

Having spoken with voters in Makerfield, Mr Kenyon said the biggest issue affecting people on the doorstep is the fact they have “been ignored” by Labour.

“So the underlying reason is just being ignored, basically taken for granted that they’re just going to vote for Labour all this time, and that tide is changing now.”

Pressed on whether he can “promise that the people will no longer be ignored”, Mr Kenyon agreed “100 per cent”.

He said: “I love speaking to people on the doorsteps. Even if they are voting for Labour or whoever, I’ll still listen to them.

Quizzed on Labour candidate Andy Burnham, Mr Kenyon was asked what he would do “differently” to the Greater Manchester Mayor for the people of Makerfield.

The Reform candidate made clear: “What I would do differently from Andy is I’d actually stay in the area and be the MP for this area, not try and use it as a stepping stone to other things.

Reform UK’s Makerfield by-election candidate has told GB News that the people have been ‘ignored for 40 years’

“If Andy Burnham was elected, there’s a very good chance that he would be our next Prime Minister and he’d never be anywhere near the area.

“So the difference with me is Makerfield needs an MP, a local MP to listen to the people. If Andy was elected, you’d never see him in the area, so I think it would be detrimental to the people of Makerfield.”

Turning to the issues affecting Britons, Mr Kenyon highlighted that illegal migration is “one of the biggest concerns” for voters in Makerfield.

He explained: “The plan on illegal immigration definitely isn’t working. Shabana Mahmood might put in plans to deal with net migration, but I think the biggest problem that people are feeding back to us on the streets is illegal immigration, so that’s not working.

Andy Burnham has confirmed he will run in the Makerfield by-election for Labour| GETTY

“That needs to change rapidly because it puts a massive strain on our infrastructure. It puts a massive strain on our policing, our hospitals.”

Mr Kenyon revealed a lack of “regulation” in Houses of Multiple Occupancy which accommodate asylum seekers, particularly in Wigan.

He told GB News: “You only need to look at a place like Wigan, we’ve got over 200 HMOs, maybe 300. They’re not regulated. We don’t exactly know the people who are coming in, coming into the country illegally.

“There’s a potential risk there, potential danger. So I’d say that needs the attention of the Labour Party in the Government ASAP.”

Asked for his verdict on Labour’s call to ban social media for under-16s, Mr Kenyon agreed with the stance of Sir Keir Starmer to implement a ban.

He said: “I’m not saying what the party’s opinion is, but I think social media can be very toxic environments, and there are a lot of negatives that come out of social media.

“Me personally, I don’t see any reason why anyone under 16 would be on social media.

“I think it could be very negative, and we’ve seen a lot of mental health issues come out of it, especially for under-16s, online bullying and so on and so forth.

“So for me personally, I’m definitely not a fan of social media for under-16s, but that’s just my opinion.”

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