Barely two hours and after it had been thrust into the political spotlight, the centre of Ashton-in-Makerfield looked pretty much the same. On a drizzly Gerard Street, dusk was falling on what looked like any typical Thursday in May.

But something was stirring. Andy Burnham’s march on the top job in the Labour Party had begun. And it was already dividing opinions on the streets of a constituency he hopes will eventually propel him to Downing Street.

The Mayor of Greater Manchester had made it official, declaring he would run to be elected as the MP for the Makerfield seat, vacated earlier today by Labour MP Josh Simons.

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It comes at a crunch time for the Labour party, and British politics in general. In the wake of tumultuous local elections last week, Reform UK and the Green Party claimed swathes of Labour wards – and that was the case here in Wigan.

On May 7, Nigel Farage’s Reform took 24 out of the 25 council seats being contested in the borough. Inside the Labour Party, the results were considered so disastrous they prompted more than 90 MPs to call for the Prime Minister’s resignation.

Carl Waugh in Ashton-in-Makerfield

Sir Keir Starmer has so far remained resolute that he will remain in his post – but that was rocked today by the resignation of health secretary Wes Streeting, who said it was ‘clear the Prime Minister would not lead’ the party into the next election.

Amid the turmoil, this latest move by Burnham is seen by many as not just the first step on a route back to Parliament, but him throwing his hat into the ring for a possible Labour leadership contest.

The Culcheth native served as MP for Leigh – just down the road – from 2001 to 2017. So what do they make of him in the heart of the neighbouring seat?

‘Excellent’ was 80-year-old Ed’s reaction to the news that Burnham was standing. “I want a certain Labour leader out, that’s why. I have never voted Labour but I will this time. I think that’s how we stop Reform.”

But he told the Manchester Evening News he had been surprised by outgoing MP Josh Simons’ decision to step down.

Reform UK and the Green Party claimed swathes of Labour wards on May 7

“He was very proactive, and viewed very positively locally,” he said. “I’m surprised it was him that stood down. It’s going to be close, definitely after the local results.

“I think people might see this as a bit more serious.”

Asked about the rise of alternatives to the traditional big three parties, Julie Adams praised Burnham’s “good ethics”.

She told the M.E.N.: “The reason Reform are popular, in my opinion, is because we have a massive immigration problem in Ashton… It’s an issue for us all. It might be that a politician who is more forthright on that can cut through.”

“Andy Burnham is quite a forthright politician. If a seat is to be rescinded for him to challenge for leadership, that’s a good thing.

Julie Adams

“He went to school locally, and went from there to Cambridge. He has a very powerful voice, and good ethics. In view of the disarray in the government, we need change, and we need someone we can relate to – we can relate to Andy Burnham.”

Another local, Kieran, chimed in: “I hope he does stand.”

Marching past, he added from under the hood of his anorak: “I’m a lifelong Labour supporter, I don’t like Starmer, but I’m not voting Reform.”

Sheltering from the drizzle outside Wetherspoons is 54-year-old Carl Waugh.

“For Labour to start infighting now is not a good move,” he said. “We’ve had 16 years of Tory government – turning that around in less than two years is not achievable.

“To have had four Prime Ministers in the last four years… Andy Burnham, is he going to get this seat? Around him is all Reform, they did really well in the local elections. So he’s taking a bit of a risk. But it’s the highest role in office so he’s going to take the risk.

“I’m a Liverpool supporter, I know what Andy Burnham did for Scousers. I hope he gets the seat, but this cycle [of changing leaders] is starting now with Labour. I can’t understand why they’ve done it. And Reform have got in in the local councils. They’re going to screw it all up.”

The Mayor of Greater Manchester had made it official, declaring he would run to be elected as the MP for the Makerfield seat

“I think if Andy gets in he’ll do a good job because he’s actually led something before. He’s very respected and he’s a man of the people. Keir Starmer, he’s an intelligent man, but he’s done a bit of flip flopping,” he continued, saying that the decision by the NEC to block Burnham from standing in the Gorton and Denton by-election was ‘out of order’ and Starmer ‘feathering his own nest’.

“You keep hearing people don’t like [Starmer]. People didn’t like Thatcher, you don’t necessarily need to be liked to be a statesman, to speak coherently. Andy Burnham can do that. But I just see this cycle starting and it’s not going to be good for Labour.”

Also sheltering from the rain further up the street were Chris, 53, and William, 39, who both declined to give their last names. Chris was sceptical of Burnham’s bid.

People take photographs of a betting company’s odds on contenders to be the next leader of the Labour party

“There are no socialists in the Labour Party left,” he declared. “There’s no left-wing politicians left in Parliament. And Nigel Farage and Reform are using working-class people against each other.”

Gesturing around at the high street, he continued: “Look at what a mess politicians have made of Ashton in Makerfield.”

“This town has gone t***ts up,” Ashton native William agreed. “I’ve never seen it looking and feeling so rough at night in 30 years.”

“I think there are much bigger social issues at play than just one man,” Chris said. “I don’t know what difference Burnham would make.”

“Politics isn’t about the people any more, it’s a career choice,” he continued. “How many politicians would get into the job if it was minimum wage?”

Rodders

Barry, 70, is walking his dog near the Gerard Centre. He’s fed up of politics altogether.

“I didn’t vote this time, they’re all the same,” he said. “They’re all for their own self and their own pocket.

“I was going to vote Reform at the locals, but I’m an animal lover,” he said, gesturing at his Cocker Spaniel. “Hearing that Farage wants to bring back fox hunting really put me off.”

Another man, who gave his name mysteriously as simply Rodders, said he thought Reform would do ‘magnificently’. “This has been a Labour town for 50, 60 years. I think it’s a mug’s move. I don’t think Burnham has got a chance – not with the lads I speak to anyway.”

Andy Burnham with Keir Starmer and Ashton-under-Lyne MP Angela Rayner in happier times(Image: Paul Ellis/PA Wire)

The 68-year-old says it was the now-scrapped Clean Air Zone that put him off Andy Burnham. “What do you want to do that for, in the middle of COVID, without asking your rank and file voters?

“Bit of a sneaky job that. If Burnham thought he’s got the Labour vote from 50 years ago, he is sadly mistaken.”

“I think it’s got to be Reform. We’ve had enough of Labour round here,” he continued. “.I’ve never had a job since Thatcher shut the pits so I’ve had to work away from home.

“You can’t get work round here. No-one has done nothing for this little town. There used to be industry – there’s more vape shops than anything else.”