On 2 June 2026, with the Makerfield by-election campaign hotting up, North West Bylines received an invitation to join a group of journalists at a short press conference with Andy Burnham, which was held after he had met with residents of Platt Bridge, an area that has suffered severe flooding twice in the last 11 years.
Platt Bridge is a part of the Makerfield area of Wigan. In December 2015 it was flooded badly over the Christmas period, with people needing to be rescued by the fire service, and even an electrical substation flooded. The then Conservative government pledged to spend £2.3bn on flood defences nationwide to make sure flooding like this would not happen again.
Then on New Year’s Day 2025, it happened again. No flood defences in place, no part of the promised £2.3bn ever reached this Northern part of the country it seems despite the pledge of nearly a decade before. And now, Burnham was told, people in the affected area dread hearing the rain as they worry about what will happen.
But in 2025, the people of Platt Bridge found a champion in the form of their MP, Josh Simons, who in collaboration with residents, Wigan Council and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham came into action to secure part of £2.4bn promised by the Labour government for the flooded areas.
Meeting the residents and the press
Now the area is facing a by-election as MP Josh Simons stood down, and Andy Burnham is one of the (14) candidates standing. On 2 June he met with a group of Platt Bridge residents and shopkeepers to hear firsthand their account of what happened and how it has affected them.
Afterwards, there was an opportunity for the invited press to ask a few questions.
It was a mixture of local and national press, and there was even a team from Japan standing outside, hoping to get some good pictures or a quote.
Answers felt honest and sincere
During the questions session, I was struck by the way Burnham answered them. No promises he couldn’t keep, no bashing of previous governments or rival parties and candidates (as we have become so accustomed to), just his opinions on what had taken place in Platt Bridge and how he felt the situation might be resolved, what he felt should be done. His passion for the area was clear to everyone, and the anger he expressed on behalf of the residents felt real.
Burnham said Westminster should put the most deprived areas in the country at the top of their list for urgent interventions, not bottom as it appears to residents now.
Places at the bottom of the list should be at the top of the list
He also feels that further development should be halted until flood risks have been examined and dealt with, as there are a number of large scale housing developments planned in the area. He believes that flood risk should be a part of the assessment when planning permission is sought and decided on.
The water industry is broken
He told reporters that in his opinion the water industry is broken. Private interest comes before national interest in the water industry, and that should not be the case. 40 years of neo-liberalism has done a lot of harm.
While he feels that full nationalisation of every water company at the same time would cause chaos, a staggered re-nationalisation would be his preference. United Utilities, the company holding a monopoly position in the North West, should not be paying out dividends, instead they should be using their soaring profits to lower bills, especially seeing they have just significantly increased prices for customers at a time people are struggling with the cost of living anyway.
Fact-checking Makerfield by-election campaign statements
More claims added regularly: statements made to persuade voters in Makerfield to vote for a politician or party don't always...
Burnham about the by-election
About the by-election, Mr Burnham said people had given a clear message that they are not happy with Labour, and he feels Labour needs to change. Labour didn’t get things right for the people, and the local election results made that clear. If Burnham gets elected, he will fight for change. He isn’t going to point to what other parties might or might not do. This by-election is about change, and which candidate can bring the change the people want.
Burnham did not talk about plans for a Labour leadership challenge, but he did say British politics needs change. He also mentions that the country is getting very divided and people need more support as division is not the answer.
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