Melanie Ward MP: 'I was struck by some similarities between the Makerfield constituency and our area'
They say a week is a long time in politics! Keir Starmer was right to announce his resignation as Prime Minister, and an orderly transition to a new Prime Minister and Leader of the Labour Party.
Keir Starmer changed the Labour Party so that we could win after 14 years of the Tories. He did some important work, such as increasing the minimum wage and keeping us out of the US-Israel war in Iran. But I spoke to hundreds of Fifers in the recent Scottish elections who told me they could not support Labour while he led us, and it was time for him to go. That’s why, in May, I called for him to go.
I will always put the voices of my constituents front and centre. I’ll always fight for our area to get the support and resources – and the change – that we need.
Many will know of Andy Burnham from his time as Mayor of Greater Manchester, or remember his service in the last Labour Government, where he led work in support of the Hillsborough families and served as Health Secretary. The Manchester city region, of course, has a dynamic and growing city centre but it also contains a number of smaller towns and villages, like the ones that make up the Makerfield constituency where Andy was elected as MP with a whopping 55 per cent of the vote.
I went to campaign for Andy in Makerfield, and I was struck by some similarities between the Makerfield constituency and our area. It has pit villages that have never recovered from the collapse of the mining industry. It has high streets that have not had the investment or care they need. People there want more rapid change, just as people here do. I was struck too, by the sense of hope and positivity in Andy’s campaign.
Andy understands areas like ours. That is why the voters in Makerfield sent him to Parliament with a thumping majority.
In his victory speech after winning in Makerfield, Andy made it clear that if policies in Westminster won’t work for places like ours, then they won’t happen.
He turned Manchester into the fastest-growing region of the UK. As we embark on our own journey of regeneration in Kirkcaldy town centre, starting with the £20 million I secured, it will matter that we have the backing of a Prime Minister like Andy. He understands our place and will be on our side.