Andy Burnham's First 100 Days: From UN Stage to Local Toxic Dump Battle

The collection of former coal mining towns and villages just south of Wigan, comprising the Makerfield constituency, was thrust into international politics at the start of summer. This occurred after Josh Simon MP’s resignation triggered a frantic and historic by-election campaign. The June 18 poll saw Andy Burnham’s parliamentary return, swiftly followed by his coronation as Labour leader and Prime Minister. Consequently, the constituency name ‘Makerfield’ was seared into the national consciousness. One hundred days have now passed since Burnham’s triumph on that June heatwave day. The last British Prime Minister to represent a constituency in Greater Manchester was Arthur Balfour, who served until 1905, highlighting the rarity of an MP from the region holding both PM and constituency member roles. Burnham has faced claims that the election was a ‘stepping stone’ for his ambition, with his opponent from Election Reform UK, Robert Kenyon, suggesting voters might ‘as well vote for his personal assistant’ regarding ongoing constituency representation. His role as Prime Minister now entails global travel, with numerous trips abroad already undertaken to places such as Ukraine and the United Nations in New York, where he met President Trump.

In his victory speech on June 19, Andy Burnham established ‘the Makerfield test’ as the organizing principle of his political policy agenda. He articulated this as a policy position with direct consequences for every spending decision, fiscal rule, and infrastructure commitment a Burnham government would make. He stated that “A Makerfield test at the heart of British politics will make sure that the places Westminster has neglected will now get fairness.” This test, applied to any proposed government measure, asks a single question: “will this work for the people of Makerfield and the communities like it across England?” If the result is negative, the policy would not proceed in its current form. Burnham clarified that the test is not intended as a veto on difficult decisions but rather a reorientation of the default assumptions that govern how Westminster designs and evaluates public policy.

Voters in the constituency hold diverse opinions regarding their MP's dual role. Roy Moor, 67, from Ashton town centre, expressed belief that Burnham’s Makerfield gambit prioritized ambition over local representation. He commented, “I do think it was a stepping stone for him, we won’t see him now,” noting that Burnham's recent focus on national issues like Brexit and the triple lock for pensioners was absent from his local campaign in June. In contrast, Nick Peet, 43, offered a different perspective: “Politics aside I think we now have a different perspective at the top.” He appreciated that Burnham, having been Greater Manchester mayor, is “rooted in the area,” suggesting that this signals a shift from London-centric politics. Young voter Holly Sanderson from Ashton remarked, “During the election campaign I saw Andy Burnham out and about more than once. He was talking to people one on one. That maybe more difficult now he’s become Prime Minister.” Pam Cryer, 39, living in Bryn, believes that “On balance I think having him as an MP is of benefit. He may not be on top of some of the more minor issues around town, the smaller things, but there’s no doubt he’s in a position where he can influence things on a wider scale.”

As a constituency MP, Burnham has become actively involved in several pressing local issues. Last week, he welcomed an announcement of funding secured to complete the refurbishment of a library deemed the ‘beating heart of Ashton’. The Carnegie-built Grade II listed library in Ashton-in-Makerfield closed in July 2024 for essential repairs, with services temporarily relocated. Subsequent surveys revealed severe damage, especially to the roof, necessitating external and structural repairs. Burnham emphasized his commitment, stating, “Since becoming MP, I’ve been fighting hard to save Ashton library. That’s because I understand what this library once meant to people – more than just bricks and mortar, it was the centre of this community, for families and kids, including my own.” Progress has also been made on the Bickershaw illegal waste dump, a major blight in the constituency, with Wigan council selecting a contractor to remove the waste, a step supported by the Prime Minister. A spokesperson for Burnham’s Makerfield team also highlighted his involvement in other constituency matters. Following sustained pressure from Andy on behalf of residents regarding planning process oversight, the council announced broad changes to its approach, including pausing the deeply unpopular South Hindley development. During the campaign, Burnham addressed challenges facing high streets and pubs, subsequently delivering relief to pubs and cracking down on