The constituency of West Lancashire has been a Labour stronghold for more than 30 years, so many could be forgiven in thinking Ashley Dalton's by-election victory was a foregone conclusion.
Ms Dalton said Labour did not take success for granted in West Lancashire. But it was making progress there and across England. By-election Tory candidate Mike Prendergast, who came second, and Blackpool South MP Scott Benton said West Lancashire Council had a local plan which allegedly pandered to Merseyside councils’ desires rather than the borough’s own housing needs. Mr Prendergast said: “One of the big things we campaigned about was protecting green space. Labour want to put about 16,000 homes in the area but a lot would be for Merseyside needs. We want a local plan for West Lancashire. That resonated with people.
Mr Benton also said the public wanted good NHS treatment, action on crime and anti-social behaviour, economic growth and jobs. Asked if Liz Truss’s government and mini-budget was mentioned by voters, Mr Benton said: “Absolutely not. I cannot remember the last time someone mentioned Liz Truss. It does not come up – certainly not conversations about Liz Truss or mortgages.”
Another topic linked to land and infrastructure is a railway station at Skelmersdale. Green candidate Mr Cranie said: “The lack of a train station at Skelmersdale is such a big issue. For 60 years, we’ve seen governments of different colours in power but the railway station has never happened. “A big issue is getting people to vote when the result seems like a forgone conclusion. There’s a big chunk of the population who think politics doesn’t matter. In England, it’s pretty easy to predict which parties will win which seats and predict the outcome of elections. It’s not a good system. English voters get a raw deal.
“We want common sense politics. Society is not as it should be. We need to build the country the way we want it. People now have an opportunity to shape the future. STUDENTS – RISING COSTS, FROZEN FINANCE AND DISRUPTED EDUCATION What did young people make of the West Lancashire by-election?