𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Voters in a constituency Andy Burnham needs to win at the next election have expressed their fury at the Government’s pension policy. A statue of Sir Robert Peel looms over Tamworth in the West Midlands, the former Prime Minister’s seat. The town gave its name to his 1834 manifesto, widely regarded as what gave birth to the modern Conservative Party. But it is Labour who will want to retain the seat after ousting the Tories there in 2024. Since its re-creation in 1983, the constituency has been won by the party victorious in general elections, and so it can be considered a bellwether that the Prime Minister needs to win whenever Britons go to the polls once again.

The area’s MP, Sarah Edwards, has a 1,382 majority. The former regional official for the Unite union and ex-governor for the NHS was first elected in October 2023 after her predecessor, Chris Pincher, resigned over allegations of sexual misconduct. Pensions were mentioned again and again by Tamworthians.

Roland Slaney, 71, a former miner and mechanics electrician said of the Government: “They say one thing and do the other thing.” He added: “Labour has done us no favours.” “Back in the 50s and 60s, it was a different kettle of fish. They promise you the world.” Everything is “extortionate”, Mr Slaney added. “You’re paying more and get less.”

He too does not like the level of migration seen in recent years. Mr Slaney said: “There’s too many foreigners coming in. They put nothing in and they’re taking everything out.” He has miner’s pension, he added, which takes him above the income tax personal allowance threshold of £12,500. He has unsuccessfully tried to get pension credit.

Another local, who wished only to be referred to as Wendy, 74, said: “Why take it out on the pensioners? He’s a load of rubbish. Why is he taking it out on the pensioners, why can’t we get our rise? The £12,500 threshold, that should go higher. We rely on [the triple lock] to go up with inflation. At the end of the day, we’ve got nothing.” When asked if the move will come back to bite him at the next election, she gave the Prime Minister a three-word warning: “It will do. They’ve been punished that much.”

Wendy too was concerned about immigration. “They’re over here and they get free accommodation, free heating, free phones.” Clive Small, 80, a retired garage proprietor, said Mr Burnham’s fortunes depend on whether he can pull the “rabbit out of the hat” with the Budget. “I want him to have an election, and that will tell all, I think,” he added. “Where’s he doing to get all the money from to do all these things? At the moment he’s all talk. I think he should have stopped in Manchester as the Mayor, full stop.”

Long-term partner Carol Onion, 71, said: “I don’t think he’s brainy enough.” She added that Rachel Reeves’s National Living Wage and employer National Insurance increases have “finished everybody, really”. Voters won’t forgive, she thinks.

Michael Clements, 39, who has run a food stall in the high street for 16 years, thinks Labour will lose as they “tell loads of lies”. “They haven’t been honest with what they promised,” he added. “There are lots of issues and again it falls on deaf ears. Everyone’s not happy. Fuel prices, farming, lots of things that affect people. It affects the price of food. Since Clarkson’s Farm, that really brought it to life.”

Celina Marshall, 44, a grade four chef, said: “Labour needs to do one. The reason I don’t vote for Labour is they always sting the people who work hard and old age pensioners. People work so hard to get where they are. If I did vote, I’d vote for Nigel Farage. They don’t stick to their word. Everything is up.”

But she added regarding Mr Burnham: “I like him. If he sticks to his word. There are people out there struggling. Me and my husband live just above water. I ask for them to keep their promises. If something changes and everybody notices, this country would be a better place.”

Sat behind the counter at Tamworth’s Toolbox was Ruth Morton, 57, whose brother owns the store. She said: “It’s always been a Labour town, Tamworth.” She thinks the chances of the party reclaiming the area are “50/50”, but added she is not sure. “I don’t really vote, to be fair,” Ms Morton said. “Don’t talk to me about politics; I’m not bothered.” But when asked if she thinks Mr Burnham is doing a good job, she replied: “Not really, no.” Immigration is a major issue as far as she is concerned. “They’re really letting everybody in,” Ms Morton said. “They get everything; we get bugger all.”

Albert Peel, 84, who believes he is related to the 19th century statesman, used to work in a tool factory. He was sat on a bench in the shadow of Sir Robert. Mr Peel said Mr Burnham is “not very good”. “He’s going to run [the country] from Manchester,” the pensioner added. “What good is that?” Mr Peel was thinking thought about voting for Reform, as the party “said they were going to get rid of the boats”. But he has settled on voting for Kemi Badenoch’s Tories. On the Prime Minister, he added: “Look at him now, taking all our pension off us.” He was also worried about the impact of the Government’s fiscal policies on his beloved bingo hall. Sector bosses have warned against a rise of gambling taxes in the Budget, which will be unveiled by the Chancellor, John Healey, on Wednesday.

Ellen Taylor, 69, a retired sewing machinist, said: ” As long as I keep getting my pension.” She added: “He seems to be looking after Manchester, doesn’t he?” Jayne Hilton, 64, who has also applied her trade as a sewing machinist, feels the region is being “neglected”. She added of the Prime Minister’s overall conduct: “He wants to be one of us, doesn’t he?” Another woman, who gave her name as Val, 82, before walking off to carry on with her day, said: “We’ve got to wait and see what he does. He’s a bit too normal.” She added that he seems to be trying too much.

However, Glen Nicholson, 64, a retired engineer who built mortuaries in hospitals, says Britons should stick with Labour’s man. He said he wanted to vote Reform at one time “on immigration issues”, but now he thinks there is “no alternative to Burnham at the minute”. “His principles and ideals are for the common person,” Mr Nicholson added. “I think he’s the one.

“I think Labour will still get in. I don’t think it will be a bad thing. The trouble is people aren’t giving people enough time.

“He does seem to be listening; he’s not just talking to people. We’ve got to give him time. It’s like a big oil tanker it needs a couple of miles to turn around. We’ve got to give him time.” He then accused the Conservatives of “Thatcherism”.

“We need proper manufacturing bases in this country,” Mr Nicholson added. “We’ve lost our identity as a country. We’ve lost who we are. You can’t put a Union Jack up. What are we working for?”

A woman working in a cafe said simply “he’s alright” before saying she was too busy to speak more.