The streets which could decide the election . . .
IT’S in places like Horwich, Westhoughton and Atherton in Greater Manchester where the election could be won or lost.
The towns make up a large part of the Bolton West constituency, one of the most marginal Tory seats in the country. Brexiteer Chris Green has held the seat since 2015 and retaining it is one of Boris Johnson’s party’s top priorities at this election. But will they succeed?
Horwich resident Theresa-Jean Molyneux is one of those who will be maintaining her faith in Boris Johnson’s party this time around.
“I’m not keen on Labour at all,” she said. “Jeremy Corbyn doesn’t seem interested in this country and Boris seems like the stronger person.”
Local elections results in May suggested voters in the town had become disillusioned with Labour and were willing to shed their traditional allegiances.
Pensioner David Foster voted for Labour at the 2017 election, but says he is unsure who he will opt for this time around.
“I’m not impressed by Corbyn,” he explained. David Hatton, 32, said: “There’s a lot of poverty and we need to sort that out.”
Down the road in Westhoughton, Phil Gibbs a chartered surveyor, said: “I’ll be voting Conservative because there’s no other option for me. I think Boris is the man to sort it all out.”
Nurse Sharon Corbett said: “I’m worried about the privatisation of the NHS so I’m thinking of voting for Labour but I don’t like Corbyn.”
At The Barber Shop, in Westhoughton town centre, owner Vicky Westby said: “I don’t like what Labour have done to Bolton and I would never vote for them at local elections, but we are in a national crisis right now.” Her colleague Will Heaney said: “I would never vote
Conservative but I am this time around.”
Edward Hayes, 61, said: “The north has been under invested because they aren’t interested in us. Labour is our best shot around here.”
Alexis Grioli, 37, said: “I want a fairer society and for everyone to be okay, not just the rich.”
Sue Simm, who works at Crown Barbecue deli in Atherton town centre, said: “It’s all a mess at the moment. I just think they need to get us out of the EU.”