The people of Runcorn could soon be asked to vote in a contest that could have huge ramifications for the government and the country
Phil Phair praised Mike Amesbury for his work as an MP representing Runcorn
It’s a bright and brisk January morning on the streets of Runcorn town centre and people are going about their business, heading to work or to the shops. In Regent Street in Runcorn’s old town, independent store owners are setting up for the day.
An industrial town and cargo port, Runcorn has a population of around 62,000. It finds itself in an interesting place both geographically and in terms of its identity. Lying on the banks of the River Mersey, Runcorn is technically part of the Liverpool City Region – while also landing clearly within the county of Cheshire.
This town has found itself in the news this week because of the actions of the man elected to represent the views of its residents in the House of Commons. Mike Amesbury, the MP for Runcorn and the neighbouring parish of Helsby, pleaded guilty on Thursday to assaulting one of his constituents after a night out in Frodsham last year.
A former shadow minister, Amesbury, who has now been kicked out of the Labour Party, will find out next month if what he describes as his ‘highly regrettable’ actions will lead to a custodial sentence. Whatever is decided could have huge ramifications for this town, its people and its political future.
On the streets of Runcorn there is plenty of sympathy for Amesbury and many regard him as having been a decent Member of Parliament. Phil Phair sought the help of his MP over problems with dangerous cladding at the apartment block where he lives.
“We have had cladding problems and when Mike was a shadow minister he was fantastic,” says Phil, 58. “And he didn’t change when Labour got into power. Nothing is too much effort for him and he works really hard.”
And what of the actions that may have now ruined his political career? “He’s made a mistake and he’s been criticised for it,” adds Phil. “I do feel sorry for him and would be sad to see him go.”
Amesbury’s conviction leaves his parliamentary constituency in something of a state of limbo. If he receives a custodial sentence next month – suspended or otherwise – it will automatically trigger what is known as a recall petition aimed at removing him from office. This petition would only need the signatures of 10% of electors in the constituency to lead to the first by-election since the Labour government came to power in July.
Even if the 55-year-old avoids a jail sentence, there is a good chance he could resign his position, which would also lead to an election. Such a vote could cause a headache for Prime Minister Keir Starmer after his new government’s rocky start to life in power.
Joe Robson, who runs The Cycle Centre in Runcorn, does not want to see a Reform MP in the area
While this area is a traditional Labour heartland, a stuttering start from the new Labour administration and the surging poll ratings of Nigel Farage’s Reform party would make this a tense contest. Bookmakers have Labour narrowly ahead of Reform in the latest odds for Runcorn and Helsby as things stand, with Farage’s party predictably calling on Amesbury to step down and trigger a vote.
But what do people here think of the chance of a Farage candidate representing their town? Joe Robson, who runs The Cycle Centre in Regent Street, can’t think of much worse.
“Parts of Runcorn might be taken in by them, it is part of the mindset for some around here, but I would like to think that the majority would see that Nigel Farage is not suitable for modern politics,” explains Joe.
“He has got an older mindset and he is not willing to change that mindset with the world as it is moving. I think he uses social media to tap into people’s vulnerabilities. I am not one for Farage. Not in the slightest.”
This is a view shared by Shirley Ireland-Jones, who is on her way to the shops when she stops to chat. She says she is ‘worried that a party like Reform even exists’ and is doing so well in the polls, adding: “I have seen people in Runcorn leaning a bit that way. It really doesn’t make me happy.
“It worries me to death. But other people have different points of view. I think we should be accepting people of different cultures and beliefs.”
On Amesbury, she adds: “If you are in the public eye, you can’t put yourself in a position where you are likely to lose it. Don’t be drinking in public, if you want to socialise like that do it at home. If you do it in public then your defences are down and your filters might not be functioning right. At least he has pleaded guilty and accepted the responsibility for that action.”
If a new Member of Parliament is elected to represent Runcorn, there is one thing that unites the people of this place – the need to regenerate the town centre and bring more people in. Several of the people we spoke to said they feel they and the place they live have felt ‘forgotten about’ for a long time here.
That’s despite local leaders currently working up a major Reconnecting Runcorn plan that they hope will revitalise the town centre. The £24m vision is made up of eight interlinked projects in the town, including a health and education hub, a creative and digital skills centre, new town centre housing for the over 55s, and the regeneration of the area around the Bridgewater Canal.
Chris Jones of Hot Frog Records says Runcorn’s old town needs major regeneration work
For Chris Jones, who runs Hot Frog Records in Regent Street, it is a case of believing it when seeing it. He previously ran a picture framing business in the same location for 25 years before converting to selling records around 18 months ago. He has seen plenty of promises in that time but very few results.
“I would like to see something done in our little old town, that we were promised when I opened a shop here 25 years ago,” says the 68-year-old.
“We were promised regeneration in Runcorn so I left the job I was in – I was a graphic designer – and opened up a picture framing business here because I saw they were regenerating the old town. I’ve been here for 25 years and if anything it has gone down.” He says any regeneration plans focus on the High Street area, adding: “We feel totally forgotten down here.”
For Joe Robson, there needs to be more for young people to do. “Just as an example, we have a pretty avid mountain bike community here in Runcorn, but there is nowhere for them to go, no infrastructure. We have built up a little area ourselves but have been kicked out many times.
“It is giving these young lads something to do. It is better than them hanging outside the Maccies or the Co-op at night. If you look at when we were younger there were youth centres, there was so much more for young people to do. Nowadays they have nowhere to go, so I would like to see someone to look at that.”
Phil Phair is another who would like to see new life breathed into the town centre. “Regeneration is the big thing I think,” he says. “It feels like Runcorn gets nothing. This is a great area and there is loads they could do with it to make it smarter and get people in, it feels a bit forgotten about here.”