Immigration
Five candidates vying to become the next MP for Makerfield participated in a live BBC debate, addressing various issues including immigration. Robert Kenyon of Reform stated,
"the vast majority" of asylum seekers were "fighting-age males" and said anyone who came to Britain should "come here legally and go through the right process".
Labour's Andy Burnham noted that more individuals were being "returned to their country of origin" under the Labour government but emphasized the need for stronger management, saying,
"It is something that just has to be gripped and gripped properly, because it is about trust in politics."
Green Party candidate Sarah Wakefield criticized other parties' approaches to asylum seekers as lacking compassion, stating,
"We are a country built on immigrants."
Conservative Michael Winstanley expressed the desire to ensure that those residing in the country contribute to society and the economy, saying,
"We want to make sure that the people who need to be are here as well, and are contributing to society and paying those taxes which help to grow the economy."
Liberal Democrat Jake Austin challenged the narrative that immigration causes most problems, remarking,
"We are constantly told by the extreme parties, particularly on the right, that immigration is the cause for most of our problems... but immigration has come down significantly over the last couple of years. Yet those problems are not solved."
Anti-social behaviour
The candidates discussed strategies to address anti-social behaviour. Winstanley advocated for increased police presence and enhanced powers, stating,
"There needed to be more police on the streets, and that their powers needed to be increased so they could effectively clamp down."
Wakefield highlighted the impact of austerity on youth services, saying,
"Too many services for young people had been cut, cut, cut, cut over years of austerity, and that there needed to be more youth clubs, more opportunities for sports, more opportunities for creativity."
Kenyon proposed establishing a youth club in each ward, noting concerns about centralizing youth services,
"There's not really anywhere for kids to go... who wants to drop their kid off in a town centre?"
Burnham emphasized a balanced approach combining policing with youth provision, stating,
"There was a need for a combination of firm policing, but with better youth provision... young people needed a kind of sense that the world is theirs, with opportunities and training available to them."
Austin supported a dual approach, saying,
"It's a two pronged approach between, yes, making sure that the police have the resources that they need, but also making sure that we're providing opportunities for young people so they do not feel like they have to turn to anti-social behaviour."
Local credentials
Regarding their local ties, Burnham rejected claims of using Makerfield as a "stepping stone," explaining,
"Makerfield included a lot of his former Leigh constituency, and that I've always been rooted here and determined to get the best I can for this area."
Kenyon described himself as a genuinely local candidate, contrasting himself with former MP Josh Simons, saying,
"Not parachuted in... I would tackle local issues on a ward-by-ward basis."
Winstanley stated he was "born and bred" in the area and aimed to present a clear Conservative perspective leading up to polling day.
Wakefield called for politics to inspire hope and invest in community life, stating,
"Politics needed to give people a sense of hope… of how things can be better, investing properly in the things that make life really worth living in our communities."
Austin, who grew up in Hindley, highlighted Liberal Democrat proposals to reduce VAT on hospitality to support local pubs and restaurants, saying,
"Reduce VAT on the hospitality sector so that pubs and restaurants can begin to thrive on high streets like those in Makerfield."
Cost of living
On the cost of living, Burnham proposed removing restrictions on bus pass usage for older and disabled people and expanding public control over essential services, stating,
"I would like to remove the restriction that stopped older and disabled people using bus passes before 09:30 GMT, and see more essential services brought under stronger public control."
Winstanley advocated ending the focus on Net Zero policies and resuming North Sea oil and gas drilling.
Kenyon echoed this stance, saying nationally the party would,
"Scrap VAT on energy bills, scrap Net Zero and start drilling in the North Sea."
Wakefield emphasized investment in public services as key to quality of life, stating,
"If we invest properly in our public services, then we are all going to be able to enjoy a life together."
Austin stressed that energy is a necessity and supported returning funds to consumers, saying,
"The Lib Dems believe that money needs to go back into the pockets of the people who are paying those energy bills, because energy is not a luxury."
Wigan delicacy
The debate concluded with candidates sharing their favourite local foods. Austin chose a "chunky steak pie," Wakefield selected Uncle Joe's Mint Balls, and Kenyon preferred "chunky steak on a buttered barm." Burnham championed the "babby's yed" (baby's head), a type of steak pudding. Winstanley favored an old-fashioned meat and potato pie, complemented by an Uncle Joe's Mint Ball.
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