Cost of living and high street issues top Makerfield voters’ concerns, poll shows

Key Points

• A comprehensive focus group study commissioned by campaign group 38 Degrees and executed by research firm JL Partners has revealed the deepest concerns of voters in the Makerfield constituency.
• The local electorate has overwhelmingly ranked the spiralling cost of living, the visible decline of local high streets, and the deterioration of public services as their most critical local priorities.
• Widespread disillusionment with the contemporary political framework and a deep-seated distrust of elected politicians emerged as dominant themes among the participants.
• The exclusive research fieldwork was conducted approximately two weeks prior to the upcoming high-stakes byelection scheduled for 18 June.
• The political stakes in the Greater Manchester constituency are exceptionally high, with Metro Mayor Andy Burnham aiming to secure the seat while facing a robust and surging challenge from Reform UK.
• The qualitative study engaged 112 local residents of the Makerfield constituency, utilizing six expansive, open-ended questions to capture raw voter sentiment.
• Beyond economic grievances, a significant portion of the electorate expressed an urgent desire for robust immigration policy adjustments and a return to fundamental honesty in political leadership.
• Respondents frequently emphasized a desire for systemic changes not merely to survive, but to ensure they can afford to actually have a normal quality of life.

Greater Manchester (Britain Today News) June 3, 2026 – Voters in the Greater Manchester constituency of Makerfield have decisively ranked the relentless cost of living crisis, the visible decay of local high streets, and the systemic strain on public services as the most critical issues requiring urgent political intervention. The explosive qualitative findings, compiled via an extensive focus group study commissioned by the campaign organisation 38 Degrees and conducted by the independent polling firm JL Partners, paint a vivid picture of a community deeply disillusioned by the current political establishment and profoundly distrustful of mainstream politicians. The exclusive fieldwork was intentionally conducted roughly two weeks before the pivotal Makerfield byelection on 18 June, a contest where the prominent Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham, is vigorously campaigning to hold the line for his party against a fiercely mounting electoral challenge from a surging Reform UK.

The study engaged 112 local residents, utilizing a methodology based on six entirely open-ended questions designed to extract unprompted, authentic perspectives regarding the structural changes they demand, whether they believe incoming leaders should be bold or cautious, and what direct message they would deliver to their next Member of Parliament. The resulting data underscores a profound shift in public mood, with voters loudly valuing tangible economic changes so that ordinary working people can afford to actually have a life, alongside firm demands for comprehensive immigration reform and an absolute restoration of honesty within the halls of Westminster.

Why is the Cost of Living Gripping Makerfield Voters So Deeply?

The immediate economic realities facing the people of Makerfield form the absolute foundation of the current electoral unrest. According to the comprehensive research findings compiled by the data analysts at JL Partners, the day-to-day pressure of inflation, utility bills, and weekly grocery shops has transcended standard political debate, transforming into a grueling struggle for domestic financial survival. The open-ended responses provided by the 112 constituency participants revealed that the phrase “cost of living” is not merely an abstract macroeconomic statistic to the local population, but a restrictive barrier that influences every single household decision.

The research paper notes that an overwhelming majority of respondents explicitly volunteered structural economic anxiety without any prior prompting. Local families explained that their primary concern is no longer about accumulating savings or planning luxury expenditures, but rather the sheer exhaustion of managing basic monthly outgoings. The data illustrates that the gap between average local wages and the actual cost of goods has widened to a degree that residents feel increasingly isolated from national economic narratives of recovery.

What Do Residents Mean by Wanting to Afford to Actually Have a Life?

One of the most poignant phrases extracted from the qualitative data, which came to define the entire 38 Degrees study, was the widespread plea for conditions to change “so we can afford to actually have a life.” As documented by the political reporting team analyzing the focus group transcripts, this sentiment reflects a deep frustration with an existence that has become entirely consumed by financial survival. Voters expressed a shared grievance that the modern economy requires them to work maximum hours merely to cover rent, mortgages, and energy bills, leaving absolutely zero disposable income for leisure, family activities, or personal well-being.

The research emphasizes that this trend represents a fundamental erosion of the social contract in the post-industrial north-west. Participants noted with profound sadness that traditional markers of a comfortable working-class lifestyle, such as occasional dining out, taking the children on modest day trips, or maintaining a reliable family vehicle, have effectively become unattainable luxuries. This specific economic paralysis has fostered a unique breed of political anger that is direct, personal, and highly volatile ahead of the June polling date.

How Has the Decline of the High Street Impacted Local Pride?

The physical deterioration of local town centres across the Makerfield constituency emerged as the second most cited localized grievance in the research data. The study by JL Partners carefully categorized the frequent complaints regarding vacant storefronts, the proliferation of low-quality discount shops, and the complete lack of premium retail or community spaces. For the residents involved in the focus groups, the state of the high street is viewed as a direct, physical manifestation of political neglect and economic disinvestment.

The reports demonstrate that a declining high street does not simply represent a loss of shopping convenience; it actively damages the collective psychological pride of the community. Respondents lamented the loss of historical independent businesses that once formed the social fabric of the area. They argued that successive local and national administrative strategies have failed to incentivize business retention, leaving behind concrete corridors that feel increasingly unsafe, uninviting, and completely detached from the needs of modern families.

Why are Public Services Triggering Such Widespread Voter Frustration?

When evaluating the state of public infrastructure, the 112 Makerfield residents did not mince their words regarding what they perceive as a systemic collapse of essential services. The focus group data shows an equal measure of alarm concerning the accessibility of healthcare, the frequency of local policing, and the general maintenance of transport networks. The researchers found that long waiting times to secure a basic appointment with a local General Practitioner (GP) or a dental practice were among the most frequently volunteered complaints.

The structural decay of public services has fundamentally undermined the electorate’s faith in institutional governance. Participants expressed a feeling of paying higher taxes while receiving visibly inferior returns. Roads marred by unresolved potholes, reduced bus routes connecting isolated pockets of the constituency, and a perceived lack of visible police officers on the streets have combined to create an environment where residents feel abandoned by centralized authorities, a factor that is directly steering them toward non-traditional political alternatives.

Who is Moving Ahead in the Byelection Battle Between Andy Burnham and Reform UK?

The political context of this research is entirely defined by the upcoming byelection on 18 June, an event that has transformed Makerfield into a critical battleground for national political trends. The Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham, representing the established political order in the region, is attempting to leverage his significant personal profile to retain the seat. However, the data gathered by 38 Degrees indicates that the traditional party machinery is facing a unprecedentedly powerful headwind in the form of a surging Reform UK.

The qualitative feedback indicates that Reform UK is successfully capitalizing on the raw, unvarnished anger of the local working-class electorate. By framing themselves as an anti-establishment force untainted by the perceived failures of recent decades, Reform candidates are finding an exceptionally receptive audience among those who feel systematically ignored. While Andy Burnham retains a core base of support built upon his historical regional advocacy, the focus group results hint that traditional political loyalties in Makerfield have grown dangerously thin, making the 18 June vote a genuine nail-biter.

What Part Does the Demand for Strict Immigration Policy Play?

A significant and highly vocal segment of the 112 focus group participants identified national immigration policy as an area requiring immediate, uncompromising reform. The study conducted by JL Partners revealed that concerns over border control and net migration figures are deeply intertwined with local anxieties regarding public service capacity. Electorate members argued that the perceived strain on housing, schools, and hospitals cannot be separated from the broader national conversations regarding population growth and immigration management.

The data suggests that the demand for a firmer immigration policy is not driven merely by ideological positioning, but by a localized perception of resource scarcity. Electorate members repeatedly asserted that before a nation can successfully accommodate external populations, it must first ensure that its own domestic citizens possess adequate access to functional public services and affordable housing. This specific viewpoint has acted as a primary engine driving traditional voters toward the populist rhetoric of Reform UK.

Why Has Disillusionment and Distrust in Politicians Reached a Crisis Point?

Perhaps the most alarming takeaway for mainstream political strategists analyzing the Makerfield focus group data is the overwhelming, near-universal level of disillusionment with the entire political system. The analysts at JL Partners highlighted a profound deficit of trust, with the vast majority of the 112 respondents expressing the belief that politicians, regardless of their party affiliation, are fundamentally dishonest, self-serving, and completely out of touch with real-world hardships.

The research indicates that the electorate is suffering from a form of political fatigue brought on by years of unfulfilled promises and perceived institutional scandals. Words like “liars,” “crooks,” and “actors” appeared with disturbing frequency in the open-ended text fields of the survey. The participants repeatedly stated that they no longer listen to official party manifestos because they have zero expectation that any of the stated policies will actually be implemented once the election concludes, creating a highly volatile voting base that is deeply cynical of any conventional campaign promises.

Should the Next MP Be Bold or Cautious in Leading Makerfield?

When asked specifically whether their prospective new Member of Parliament should adopt a bold or cautious approach to governance, the Makerfield focus group leaned decisively toward an aggressive, bold agenda. The data interpreted by 38 Degrees reveals that the community has absolutely no appetite for incremental, safe, or cautious political maneuvering. The consensus among the 112 residents was that the structural problems facing the constituency are far too severe to be cured by minor policy tweaks or diplomatic moderation.

The call for boldness was characterized by demands for radical economic interventions, immediate investments in regional regeneration, and a willingness to break away from standard party lines to advocate for local interests. Electorate members stated that they want an MP who is prepared to be an abrasive, disruptive force in Westminster—someone who will loudly champion the plight of the post-industrial north-west rather than quietly climbing the ministerial ladder. Caution, in the eyes of the Makerfield public, is viewed as a synonym for continued stagnation.
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What Direct Messages Do Voters Have For Their Incoming Member of Parliament?

The final segment of the JL Partners qualitative study provided the 112 Makerfield residents with the opportunity to deliver a direct, unedited message to their future representative ahead of the 18 June ballot. The overarching tone of these messages was an intense mixture of desperation, warning, and definitive instruction. The primary message echoing through the data was a demand for active, physical visibility within the community rather than permanent isolation behind the gates of London.

Voters explicitly warned that they would no longer tolerate an MP who only appears in the locality during election cycles to secure votes. The messages demanded that the incoming representative focus single-mindedly on bringing jobs back to the area, fixing the local infrastructure, and directly addressing the cost of living crisis. The collective warning was clear: any politician who wins the seat on 18 June and subsequently fails to deliver visible, material improvements to the daily lives of the residents will face immediate and ruthless electoral retribution at the very next opportunity.

How Was the 38 Degrees and JL Partners Research Conducted?

To understand the full weight of these findings, it is essential to examine the rigorous methodological framework utilized by JL Partners for this exclusive 38 Degrees project. The fieldwork targeted a diverse cross-section of 112 verified Makerfield residents, ensuring balanced representation across various age groups, socio-economic backgrounds, and historical voting behaviors. By deploying six carefully constructed, open-ended questions, the researchers deliberately avoided leading the participants, allowing the authentic, unvarnished priorities of the community to surface naturally.

The timing of the fieldwork—unfolding approximately two weeks prior to the critical 18 June byelection—was strategically chosen to capture voter sentiment at its absolute peak of political engagement. Unlike quantitative polls that force respondents to select from pre-determined checkboxes, this qualitative approach allowed for deep thematic analysis. The resulting data provides an invaluable, real-time diagnostic map of a northern working-class constituency that is currently balanced on a knife-edge, caught between traditional party alignment and a powerful, unpredictable urge for total political disruption.