What’s the word on the street in Barnsley?published at 17:27 BST 8 May
17:27 BST 8 May
Rebecca Wearn
in Barnsley
Barnsley has had a Labour council for fifty years. But all that looks set to change.
Lee is installing a door in a terraced home. He’s voted Labour for most of his life.
“But for the last ten years they’ve made no difference my every day life, I’ve seen no benefits,” he says
“As a taxpayer we are paying too much out for illegal immigrants; for housing, for benefits. That’s my number one, followed by all the unemployed but who can work.”
Lee has held down a job since he was 16. His wife worked as a carer.
“Everything is just tax, tax, tax and tax again,” he says. “I just want the country to be run fairly.
“We can but vote and hope for the best.”
Over at the market, Jackie is doing her weekly shopping and told me she is worried.
“I’ve been Labour all my life. I’m sad,” she said.
“I don’t think they will know how to run [the] council, Reform.”
Meanwhile Paul, from Keith’s Quality Meats butchers, thinks people have not voted on local issues.
“It seems to me that national issues are in play. In my opinion people have voted against Keir Starmer.”