‘It’s not the old Labour we had’: Voters feel abandoned in red wall town eyed up by Nigel Farage
St Helens, a former industrial hub in Merseyside and longtime Labour stronghold, is experiencing economic decline and voter disillusionment, creating an opening for political shifts. Residents express frustration over the town's decay, lack of investment, and feeling overlooked despite being part of the Liverpool City Region. With traditional industries gone and high streets struggling, figures like Nigel Farage may gain traction in this changing landscape.
- ▪St Helens is a historically Labour-supporting town in Merseyside that is facing economic decline and political change.
- ▪Longtime residents Janet Wylde and Sandra Hilton criticize the state of the town centre, citing empty shops and a lack of investment.
- ▪Pilkington, once a major employer in St Helens, is now a shadow of its former self and owned by a Japanese company.
- ▪St Helens is part of the Liverpool City Region but remains distinct in identity, being farther from Liverpool and more oriented toward rugby league.
- ▪Voters in St Helens feel neglected and believe nearby Liverpool receives more funding and attention.
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NewsUKUK Politics‘It’s not the old Labour we had’: Voters feel abandoned in red wall town eyed up by Nigel FarageA former industrial powerhouse and part of one of the Labour Party’s most loyal regions, St Helens could be falling into Nigel Farage’s hands, as Dan Haygarth finds outSaturday 02 May 2026 14:22 BSTBookmarkCommentsGo to commentsBookmark popoverRemoved from bookmarksClose popover{"translations":{"comments":"Go to comments","share":"Share","copyLink":"Copy link","bookmark":"Bookmark","removeBookmark":"Remove bookmark"},"showComments":true,"showBookmark":true,"articleId":"b2955322","articleMeta":{"url":"https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/local-elections-st-helens-merseyside-liverpool-b2955322.html","title":"‘It’s not the old Labour we had’: Forgotten red wall town eyed…
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