"There’s so many changes we need it's hard to point out": Eccles residents fed up with lack of change

As you walk round the market town there is a sense of tiredness of a lack of change amongst voters, the Manchester Evening News visited Eccles to speak to voters ahead of the upcoming general election.

The general consensus of voters shared a lack of trust towards the current government - growing frustrated with the lack of improvement to the area.

Alan, 70, said: “There’s so many changes we need it's hard to point out.

“We need more people to tell the truth in government, I think a lot of people these days are despondent to it all,” he continued.

The vast number of changes needed was a common theme amongst voters, Dave, 71, added: “I want to see more investment in the north. We seem to be getting left behind everybody else.”

Richard, 55, continued: “Put the money back into society. People don’t want much, they just want a decent civilised standard of life. We are not asking for too much.”

And as you walk round the market town, the vast number of closed shops became a strong worry amongst voters.

Dave, continued by saying: “If you can see the state of the precinct there’s no investment in shops, they are just dying there’s only one or two left.”

Local barber Adam, 29, said: “It is probably the same story for many working class towns that have seen a drop off in jobs.”

He continued to point at the Eccles shopping precinct, “You only need to look around here, shops are closing down and struggling to operate and I know that is probably a picture of the rest of the country.”

Adam looked at the shutters of previous shops, and added: “An injection of jobs would allow people to have a greater sense of hope and social mobility because it feels that a lot of people feel trapped.”

Many voters told the M.E.N that there seemed to be a loss of hopes around the area. And with the shops in the precinct emptying there seemed to be a greater concern for future generations.

“We need more help for the young ones,” said Alan. With Christine, 55 adding to this point: “I’d like to see more opportunities for the youngsters.”

“More enterprise into the country such as apprenticeships for the young ones. I’d like the abolishment of university fees.” She continued: “This would give more opportunity to the less privileged to be able to go.”

With voters already feeling left behind, and left out by the government when asked about the party leaders, many shared similar views on the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. “I think he’s out of touch completely.” added Christine.

Nigel, 76, commented on the party leader saying: “He’s a very nice man, but he’s totally out of touch, he comes from millionaire row. What does he know about the likes of you and me?”

This opinion was echoed by Alan, “Maybe as a man he’s alright. But running a government you've got to look at what mess it’s in.”

Although the mention of Keir Starmer was also met with mixed emotions, Nigel added: “There’s nothing to judge him by. There have been some good labour leaders in the past but whether he’d be one of them.”

Christine said: “I think he’s a flip-flop, he decides one week he wants to vote one thing and then vote one thing that is completely opposite.” She continued: “I don’t trust him, and I know he’s head of the polls and if he gets in I think god help us.”

Adam's view differed: “He’s probably not going to tick all my boxes. I think he’s been worryingly passive on the Israel-Palestine issue.

“If he remains passive on most things the Tory party is self-destructing in front of us,” continuing to add: “I think we will get a better picture of who is as a person and politician when or if he gets into power.”

The M.E.N. and Reach are leading a nationwide vox pop project called '5000 voices', speaking to people across the country about the issues affecting them ahead of next month's general election.

Our reporters will be travelling around Greater Manchester to hear from the people about what really matters to them.

You can watch the public's answers to our reporters' questions in full in the video above.