They've been told change is coming - but locals aren't convinced

Sunshine beamed down on Heywood as the town awoke to find it had a new MP and a new Prime Minister in Sir Keir Starmer.

For many the weather reflected their mood after Labour took a landslide victory in the general election just hours earlier. The Heywood and Middleton North constituency was once again under the control of the Labour Party and their new MP Elsie Blundell who took 15,069 votes.

The area turned Conservative for the first time back in 2019, but that was certainly a thing of the past five years on. Following the news they had a new MP, on Friday there were many on the streets of the market town delighted about change.

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Geoff Bickerton said: “It’s brilliant news. I’m a Labour supporter and I’ve seen what the Tories have done whenever they get a strong majority - they do damage. I’m hoping Labour can bring real change.

“I’m glad they’ve gone, let’s give the new ones a chance.”

Thousands of Labour voters in the constituency will be feeling similar elation as the Heywood Market man, but the reality isn’t quite so clear cut. When you ask around town, Labour feel like the best of a bad bunch.

Stephanie Delamare had just come back from a work shift in Manchester city centre and shared her thoughts on her tactical voting.

“I think Conservatives have been in so long, it’s a tough one to vote on,” the 26-year-old explained. “Really I would’ve voted Green but it felt like a wasted vote.

“I think anything other than Labour and it would’ve been a vote for Tories. I don’t believe in everything they do, but I feel it’s a better option than the Conservatives.

“I think overall this was a vote to get Tories out. But