{"id":20129,"date":"2026-05-08T03:36:48","date_gmt":"2026-05-08T03:36:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/on-these-angry-streets-voters-deliver-a-very-british-backlash\/"},"modified":"2026-05-08T03:36:48","modified_gmt":"2026-05-08T03:36:48","slug":"on-these-angry-streets-voters-deliver-a-very-british-backlash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/on-these-angry-streets-voters-deliver-a-very-british-backlash\/","title":{"rendered":"On these angry streets, voters deliver a very British backlash"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<div data-testid=\"ad-sticky-container\" class=\"sc-37562b78-0 iLENDS\">\n<div class=\"container\">\n<div class=\"sc-54c4a04e-0 evuabm adWrapper noPrint sc-1c01c11e-0 jLbRED\" data-testid=\"ad\"><small class=\"sc-54c4a04e-2 dhgkTF\">Advertisement<\/small><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<header class=\"sc-ad76bc40-0 fNDZoQ\">\n<div class=\"sc-5cbbddda-0 hjlPcO\">\n<div data-testid=\"article-author\" class=\"sc-5cbbddda-1 hPBdKJ\">\n<div>\n<p data-testid=\"article-datetime\" class=\"sc-5cbbddda-5 hxoHkT\"><span class=\"sc-a243f860-0 gjmXPs\"><time data-testid=\"storytile-timestamp\" datetime=\"2026-05-08T11:30:00+10:00\">May 8, 2026<!-- --> &mdash; 11:30am<\/time><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-7132c98c-0 efdRpd noPrint\" data-testid=\"article-actions\">\n<div class=\"sc-7132c98c-1 iddmiW\">\n<div class=\"sc-f9e3ccff-0 kbEYga\" readability=\"6.3137254901961\"><button aria-checked=\"false\" aria-label=\"Save article to read later\" role=\"switch\" type=\"button\" class=\"sc-f9e3ccff-1 kmQlMe\"><svg fill=\"none\" height=\"24\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"1.5\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"24\" class=\"sc-d1b14060-0 TUyao\"><path d=\"M5.75 4C5.75 3.86193 5.86193 3.75 6 3.75H18C18.1381 3.75 18.25 3.86193 18.25 4L18.25 19.7709L12.8004 16.9682C12.2981 16.7099 11.7019 16.7099 11.1996 16.9682L5.75 19.7709L5.75 4Z\"><\/path><\/svg><span class=\"sc-f9e3ccff-2 gaKrMl\">Save<\/span><\/button>\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"sc-ba6ddcd9-0 kskMyR sc-d1b14060-3 cpmcTK\" role=\"tooltip\" readability=\"8.0816326530612\">\n<p class=\"sc-d1b14060-4 JmUoF\">You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n<p>Remove items from your saved list to add more.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><button aria-label=\"Set font size to normal\" aria-pressed=\"true\" class=\"sc-f7fd8257-1 yiNod\">A<\/button><button aria-label=\"Set font size to larger\" aria-pressed=\"false\" class=\"sc-f7fd8257-1 frqtnv\">A<\/button><button aria-label=\"Set font size to very large\" aria-pressed=\"false\" class=\"sc-f7fd8257-1 frqrHP\">A<\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<aside class=\"sc-6f94ac39-6 esmrVF\"><\/aside>\n<div class=\"sc-c502198b-0 NkURW\" readability=\"22\">\n<p><strong>Manchester:<\/strong> The earthquake in British politics could be felt on the city streets when locals walked to their polling stations on Thursday (London time).<\/p>\n<p>Angry at the state of their country, voters knew they had an opportunity to send a message in their local council elections to rebuke &ndash; or replace &ndash; the prime minister, Keir Starmer.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"sc-4820f69c-1 ZrhPA\"><button aria-label=\"enlarge image\" type=\"button\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-5 dyWwUw\">\n<div class=\"sc-d34e428-0 ikzfwY\"><picture><source media=\"(min-width: 1000px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.132%2C$multiply_0.9841%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_30\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/e635ad9d15018de45e4b5927de43db20e530b059, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.132%2C$multiply_1.9683%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_30\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/e635ad9d15018de45e4b5927de43db20e530b059 2x\"><source media=\"(min-width: 750px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.132%2C$multiply_1.0159%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_30\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/e635ad9d15018de45e4b5927de43db20e530b059, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.132%2C$multiply_2.0317%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_30\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/e635ad9d15018de45e4b5927de43db20e530b059 2x\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Former DJ John Locke says he has lost faith in the Labour Party under Keir Starmer.\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/%24zoom_0.132,%24multiply_0.7725,%24ratio_1.5,%24width_756,%24x_0,%24y_30\/t_crop_custom\/q_86,f_auto\/e635ad9d15018de45e4b5927de43db20e530b059\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.132%2C$multiply_0.7725%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_30\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/e635ad9d15018de45e4b5927de43db20e530b059, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.132%2C$multiply_1.545%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_30\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/e635ad9d15018de45e4b5927de43db20e530b059 2x\" class=\"sc-d34e428-1 ldCIuB\"><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"internal-linking-related-contents\"><a href=\"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/12-weeks-jail-for-school-it-support-technician-who-took-upskirt-videos-of-teachers\/\" class=\"template-1\"><span class=\"cta\">News :<\/span><span class=\"postTitle\">&lt;div&gt;12 weeks' jail for school IT support technician who took upskirt videos of teachers&lt;\/div&gt;<\/span><\/a><\/div><p><svg viewbox=\"0 0 38 38\" height=\"38px\" width=\"38px\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-4 iMiYlW\"><g stroke=\"#F4F5F7\" stroke-width=\"2\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" transform=\"matrix(1, 0, 0, 1, 22.029383, 7.619553)\"><path d=\"M1 8l6.36396103-6.36396103M8 7V1H2\"><\/path><\/g><g stroke=\"#F4F5F7\" stroke-width=\"2\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" transform=\"matrix(1, 0, 0, 1, 7.0731, 21.523087)\"><path d=\"M8 1L1.63603897 7.36396103M1 2v6h6\"><\/path><\/g><\/svg><\/p><\/button><figcaption data-testid=\"figure-caption\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-0 SuAZY\"><span>Former DJ John Locke says he has lost faith in the Labour Party under Keir Starmer.<\/span><cite class=\"sc-4820f69c-2 jfXEoI\"><span class=\"sc-4820f69c-3 jfhtQZ\">David Crowe<\/span><\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&ldquo;I voted Labour all my life. I don&rsquo;t think I am today,&rdquo; said John Locke, 63, a business owner who has made his living from Manchester&rsquo;s famous music and club scene.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Our prime minister just doesn&rsquo;t have any balls, and he needs to grow some.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"container\">\n<div class=\"sc-54c4a04e-0 yKpxh adWrapper noPrint sc-6f94ac39-3 fDyKLW\" data-testid=\"ad\"><small class=\"sc-54c4a04e-2 dhgkTF\">Advertisement<\/small><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-c502198b-0 NkURW\" readability=\"26\">\n<p>&ldquo;I just think he&rsquo;s not got what it takes to be a great leader. I think he&rsquo;d be a great second in command.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Locke revels in Manchester&rsquo;s music scene &ndash; the city produced Joy Division, New Order, The Smiths, The Stone Roses and Oasis, to name a few &ndash; but he despairs at its public services.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We need to try and do something about wait lists at hospitals. I was in the hospital recently, and I was there for 11&frac12; hours, and I still didn&rsquo;t get seen,&rdquo; he said.<\/p>\n<div class=\"internal-linking-related-contents\"><a href=\"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/migrant-acquitted-in-first-trial-over-us-border-military-zones\/\" class=\"template-1\"><span class=\"cta\">News :<\/span><span class=\"postTitle\">Migrant acquitted in first trial over US border military zones<\/span><\/a><\/div><p>&ldquo;We need to try and do something about our homeless. It&rsquo;s all that basic stuff.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>There is a raw discontent in this city &ndash; and this country. And it is powering a very British backlash.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"container\">\n<div class=\"sc-54c4a04e-0 yKpxh adWrapper noPrint sc-6f94ac39-3 fDyKLW\" data-testid=\"ad\"><small class=\"sc-54c4a04e-2 dhgkTF\">Advertisement<\/small><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-c502198b-0 NkURW\" readability=\"26\">\n<p>On Thursday night, the trend was expected to drive Labour out of power in the Welsh parliament, send it to new depths in the Scottish parliament and wipe out many of its local councillors in England.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"sc-4820f69c-1 ZrhPA\"><button aria-label=\"enlarge image\" type=\"button\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-5 dyWwUw\">\n<div class=\"sc-d34e428-0 ikzfwY\"><picture><source media=\"(min-width: 1000px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.203%2C$multiply_0.9841%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/31c3f52478b694ace9fef2355db1e34c8a8bf21d, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.203%2C$multiply_1.9683%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/31c3f52478b694ace9fef2355db1e34c8a8bf21d 2x\"><source media=\"(min-width: 750px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.203%2C$multiply_1.0159%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/31c3f52478b694ace9fef2355db1e34c8a8bf21d, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.203%2C$multiply_2.0317%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/31c3f52478b694ace9fef2355db1e34c8a8bf21d 2x\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Manchester&rsquo;s skyline has transformed over recent decades, but some locals say they have been priced out.\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/%24zoom_0.203,%24multiply_0.7725,%24ratio_1.5,%24width_756,%24x_0,%24y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86,f_auto\/31c3f52478b694ace9fef2355db1e34c8a8bf21d\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.203%2C$multiply_0.7725%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/31c3f52478b694ace9fef2355db1e34c8a8bf21d, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.203%2C$multiply_1.545%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/31c3f52478b694ace9fef2355db1e34c8a8bf21d 2x\" class=\"sc-d34e428-1 ldCIuB\"><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<p><svg viewbox=\"0 0 38 38\" height=\"38px\" width=\"38px\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-4 iMiYlW\"><g stroke=\"#F4F5F7\" stroke-width=\"2\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" transform=\"matrix(1, 0, 0, 1, 22.029383, 7.619553)\"><path d=\"M1 8l6.36396103-6.36396103M8 7V1H2\"><\/path><\/g><g stroke=\"#F4F5F7\" stroke-width=\"2\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" transform=\"matrix(1, 0, 0, 1, 7.0731, 21.523087)\"><path d=\"M8 1L1.63603897 7.36396103M1 2v6h6\"><\/path><\/g><\/svg><\/p><\/button><figcaption data-testid=\"figure-caption\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-0 SuAZY\"><span>Manchester&rsquo;s skyline has transformed over recent decades, but some locals say they have been priced out.<\/span><cite class=\"sc-4820f69c-2 jfXEoI\"><span class=\"sc-4820f69c-3 jfhtQZ\">Bloomberg<\/span><\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>About 5000 council seats were up for election on Thursday. Forecasters at PollCheck, an independent site, estimated Labour would shrink from 2307 to 1110 councillors and the Conservative Party would fall from 1230 to 707.<\/p>\n<p>The Greens were tipped to grow from 183 to 689 seats, while Reform UK, the populist right-wing party led by Nigel Farage, were expected to swell from 69 to 1421 seats.<\/p>\n<p>This was not just about personalities and media headlines. Households have been feeling the twin pressures of low wages and rising prices, as well as a chronic housing shortage.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"container\">\n<div class=\"sc-54c4a04e-0 yKpxh adWrapper noPrint sc-6f94ac39-3 fDyKLW\" data-testid=\"ad\"><small class=\"sc-54c4a04e-2 dhgkTF\">Advertisement<\/small><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-c502198b-0 NkURW\" readability=\"19.814868804665\">\n<aside data-testid=\"related-story\" class=\"sc-c8170ed7-0 kBAoLZ\">\n<h2 data-testid=\"related-story-heading\" class=\"sc-c8170ed7-1 iHMtRN\">Related Article<\/h2>\n<div class=\"sc-679b6ed4-0 VKgwt\" data-an-position=\"1\" imagepositions=\"top\" data-testid=\"story-tile\">\n<figure imagesizes=\"[object Object]\" class=\"sc-8825a2fb-0 kZkxVd\">\n<div class=\"sc-d34e428-0 ikzfwY\"><picture><source media=\"(min-width: 1000px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.2724%2C$multiply_0.2805%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/1319f88c0f8d6654b2c77a1ef779527a7c48c5a2, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.2724%2C$multiply_0.5609%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/1319f88c0f8d6654b2c77a1ef779527a7c48c5a2 2x\"><source media=\"(min-width: 750px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.2724%2C$multiply_0.2842%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/1319f88c0f8d6654b2c77a1ef779527a7c48c5a2, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.2724%2C$multiply_0.5685%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/1319f88c0f8d6654b2c77a1ef779527a7c48c5a2 2x\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Keir Starmer\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/%24zoom_0.2724,%24multiply_0.5127,%24ratio_1.777778,%24width_1059,%24x_0,%24y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86,f_auto\/1319f88c0f8d6654b2c77a1ef779527a7c48c5a2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.2724%2C$multiply_0.5127%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/1319f88c0f8d6654b2c77a1ef779527a7c48c5a2, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.2724%2C$multiply_1.0255%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/1319f88c0f8d6654b2c77a1ef779527a7c48c5a2 2x\" class=\"sc-d34e428-1 ioInpc\"><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>Jasmine Broadmeadow, 24, was raised in a working-class household in Cheshire &ndash; her mother worked three jobs, including as a cleaner &ndash; and said she believed life was getting harder for workers.<\/p>\n<p>Broadmeadow said she worked close to full-time hours while studying food science, but could barely get by. She wanted a higher minimum wage for all.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;In my area, there&rsquo;s a lot of poverty and anger,&rdquo; she said.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;So you&rsquo;ve got one side that&rsquo;s really gentrified, and another side that is poor and underdeveloped and it&rsquo;s just forgotten about.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"container\">\n<div class=\"sc-54c4a04e-0 yKpxh adWrapper noPrint sc-6f94ac39-3 fDyKLW\" data-testid=\"ad\"><small class=\"sc-54c4a04e-2 dhgkTF\">Advertisement<\/small><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-c502198b-0 NkURW\" readability=\"29\">\n<p>She nodded towards some high-rise apartments in the distance.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We need more affordable housing because, you know, the skyscrapers over there, well, no one here can afford to live in them.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<blockquote data-testid=\"pull-quote\" class=\"sc-e5732b89-0 lhVspT\" readability=\"7\">\n<p>&lsquo;I wouldn&rsquo;t say we&rsquo;re due a revolution, but there&rsquo;s a level of discontent in the populace which comes from income distribution.&rsquo;<\/p>\n<p><cite class=\"sc-e5732b89-1 hcWGZY\">Malcolm Skinner, cafe owner<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>The disenchantment with Labour was palpable outside the polling stations in the Piccadilly district in the heart of Manchester on Thursday. Labour has dominated this area for decades, but voters told this masthead they wanted to use their votes to send a message. For some, that meant voting for the Greens.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;For myself, it is just any opportunity to kind of swing the numbers,&rdquo; said Josh, a young graphic designer who did not want to give his last name.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"container\">\n<div class=\"sc-54c4a04e-0 yKpxh adWrapper noPrint sc-6f94ac39-3 fDyKLW\" data-testid=\"ad\"><small class=\"sc-54c4a04e-2 dhgkTF\">Advertisement<\/small><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-c502198b-0 NkURW\" readability=\"30\">\n<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s about doing anything to show our unhappiness with how things are being run currently. Anything to kind of just show my anger.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Amanda, a young project manager, said Labour had done better than the Conservatives on managing the National Health Service (the country&rsquo;s equivalent to Medicare). She was frustrated, however, with the prime minister&rsquo;s &ldquo;fence sitting&rdquo; on every issue. On foreign policy, she believed Starmer needed to do more to stand up to US President Donald Trump.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"sc-4820f69c-1 ZrhPA\"><button aria-label=\"enlarge image\" type=\"button\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-5 dyWwUw\">\n<div class=\"sc-d34e428-0 ikzfwY\"><picture><source media=\"(min-width: 1000px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.357%2C$multiply_0.9841%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/134f06b2fbdb7bc15d7cea0a38ea71079110b2e4, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.357%2C$multiply_1.9683%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/134f06b2fbdb7bc15d7cea0a38ea71079110b2e4 2x\"><source media=\"(min-width: 750px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.357%2C$multiply_1.0159%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/134f06b2fbdb7bc15d7cea0a38ea71079110b2e4, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.357%2C$multiply_2.0317%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/134f06b2fbdb7bc15d7cea0a38ea71079110b2e4 2x\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Reform&rsquo;s Nigel Farage surged in the polls over recent months.\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/%24zoom_0.357,%24multiply_0.7725,%24ratio_1.5,%24width_756,%24x_0,%24y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86,f_auto\/134f06b2fbdb7bc15d7cea0a38ea71079110b2e4\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.357%2C$multiply_0.7725%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/134f06b2fbdb7bc15d7cea0a38ea71079110b2e4, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.357%2C$multiply_1.545%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/134f06b2fbdb7bc15d7cea0a38ea71079110b2e4 2x\" class=\"sc-d34e428-1 ldCIuB\"><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<p><svg viewbox=\"0 0 38 38\" height=\"38px\" width=\"38px\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-4 iMiYlW\"><g stroke=\"#F4F5F7\" stroke-width=\"2\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" transform=\"matrix(1, 0, 0, 1, 22.029383, 7.619553)\"><path d=\"M1 8l6.36396103-6.36396103M8 7V1H2\"><\/path><\/g><g stroke=\"#F4F5F7\" stroke-width=\"2\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" transform=\"matrix(1, 0, 0, 1, 7.0731, 21.523087)\"><path d=\"M8 1L1.63603897 7.36396103M1 2v6h6\"><\/path><\/g><\/svg><\/p><\/button><figcaption data-testid=\"figure-caption\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-0 SuAZY\"><span>Reform&rsquo;s Nigel Farage surged in the polls over recent months.<\/span><cite class=\"sc-4820f69c-2 jfXEoI\"><span class=\"sc-4820f69c-3 jfhtQZ\">AP<\/span><\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Farage and Reform are on the rise in many parts of the country, but not in central Manchester. One voter, Jake, a young professional, said he was turning up to do what he could to block the populist party.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m just shocked at how well they&rsquo;re doing,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;And I think nothing really matters other than not letting them get in.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"container\">\n<div class=\"sc-54c4a04e-0 yKpxh adWrapper noPrint sc-6f94ac39-3 fDyKLW\" data-testid=\"ad\"><small class=\"sc-54c4a04e-2 dhgkTF\">Advertisement<\/small><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-c502198b-0 NkURW\" readability=\"28.077534791252\">\n<p>But there were plenty of voters barracking for Farage on Thursday. If there had been a general election this week, Reform UK would have gained 25 per cent of the national vote, according to polling firm YouGov. The support for Labour would have been only 18 per cent &ndash; a catastrophically low number. It won 33.7 per cent at the 2024 general election.<\/p>\n<p>The polling shows that migration is a key reason for voters deserting the major parties and backing Farage in the belief he will stop asylum seekers. One Mancunian, a white woman in her fifties who declined to give her name, summed up this sentiment while speaking very quietly so she could not be overheard.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s all fighting-age men,&rdquo; she said of the asylum seekers. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s a red flag. It&rsquo;s not really about asylum. They&rsquo;re here for economic reasons &ndash; it&rsquo;s there for all to see. But if you say it, they call you a racist.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Others were forcefully in favour of accepting migrants. &ldquo;The more the merrier in Manchester,&rdquo; said Locke.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"container\">\n<div class=\"sc-54c4a04e-0 yKpxh adWrapper noPrint sc-6f94ac39-3 fDyKLW\" data-testid=\"ad\"><small class=\"sc-54c4a04e-2 dhgkTF\">Advertisement<\/small><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-c502198b-0 NkURW\" readability=\"21\">\n<p>In this city, those who were unhappy with Starmer had a local hero who could replace him. The mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, has been touted incessantly by supporters who have briefed the media on his plans to become prime minister.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"sc-4820f69c-1 ZrhPA\"><button aria-label=\"enlarge image\" type=\"button\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-5 dyWwUw\">\n<div class=\"sc-d34e428-0 ikzfwY\"><picture><source media=\"(min-width: 1000px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.145%2C$multiply_0.9841%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_202%2C$y_151\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/5b50329a4b603807a1ae25b6867311083a721c4c, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.145%2C$multiply_1.9683%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_202%2C$y_151\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/5b50329a4b603807a1ae25b6867311083a721c4c 2x\"><source media=\"(min-width: 750px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.145%2C$multiply_1.0159%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_202%2C$y_151\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/5b50329a4b603807a1ae25b6867311083a721c4c, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.145%2C$multiply_2.0317%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_202%2C$y_151\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/5b50329a4b603807a1ae25b6867311083a721c4c 2x\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Keir Starmer, former deputy PM Angela Rayner and Andy Burnham meet schoolchildren during a visit to a primary school last month. Rayner and Burnham are both seen as credible successors to the PM.\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/%24zoom_0.145,%24multiply_0.7725,%24ratio_1.5,%24width_756,%24x_202,%24y_151\/t_crop_custom\/q_86,f_auto\/5b50329a4b603807a1ae25b6867311083a721c4c\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.145%2C$multiply_0.7725%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_202%2C$y_151\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/5b50329a4b603807a1ae25b6867311083a721c4c, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.145%2C$multiply_1.545%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_202%2C$y_151\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/5b50329a4b603807a1ae25b6867311083a721c4c 2x\" class=\"sc-d34e428-1 ldCIuB\"><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<p><svg viewbox=\"0 0 38 38\" height=\"38px\" width=\"38px\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-4 iMiYlW\"><g stroke=\"#F4F5F7\" stroke-width=\"2\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" transform=\"matrix(1, 0, 0, 1, 22.029383, 7.619553)\"><path d=\"M1 8l6.36396103-6.36396103M8 7V1H2\"><\/path><\/g><g stroke=\"#F4F5F7\" stroke-width=\"2\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" transform=\"matrix(1, 0, 0, 1, 7.0731, 21.523087)\"><path d=\"M8 1L1.63603897 7.36396103M1 2v6h6\"><\/path><\/g><\/svg><\/p><\/button><figcaption data-testid=\"figure-caption\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-0 SuAZY\"><span>Keir Starmer, former deputy PM Angela Rayner and Andy Burnham meet schoolchildren during a visit to a primary school last month. Rayner and Burnham are both seen as credible successors to the PM.<\/span><cite class=\"sc-4820f69c-2 jfXEoI\"><span class=\"sc-4820f69c-3 jfhtQZ\">Getty Images<\/span><\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Broadmeadow said Burnham seemed to be &ldquo;one of the people&rdquo; and could speak directly with voters on talkback radio.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I think we need a new Labour Party leader &ndash; 100 per cent we do,&rdquo; she said.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;If Andy Burnham was to run for prime minister, I&rsquo;d vote for him.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"container\">\n<div class=\"sc-54c4a04e-0 yKpxh adWrapper noPrint sc-6f94ac39-3 fDyKLW\" data-testid=\"ad\"><small class=\"sc-54c4a04e-2 dhgkTF\">Advertisement<\/small><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-c502198b-0 NkURW\" readability=\"24.234752589183\">\n<p>Meanwhile, thousands of Mancunians walked along Piccadilly without looking for the polling stations nearby. Turnout at council elections is historically low: only 30.8 per cent of registered eligible voters bothered to cast votes at the last ones.<\/p>\n<p>There was no queue on Thursday at the central Manchester booths, and voters seemed to be done within 10 minutes. The malaise in British politics was on display: if the public was disenchanted, it was also disengaged.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"sc-4820f69c-1 ZrhPA\"><button aria-label=\"enlarge image\" type=\"button\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-5 dyWwUw\">\n<div class=\"sc-d34e428-0 ikzfwY\"><picture><source media=\"(min-width: 1000px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.158%2C$multiply_0.9841%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_70%2C$y_141\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/f32675fab9967b4217b63b9d85165a37f25cc133, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.158%2C$multiply_1.9683%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_70%2C$y_141\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/f32675fab9967b4217b63b9d85165a37f25cc133 2x\"><source media=\"(min-width: 750px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.158%2C$multiply_1.0159%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_70%2C$y_141\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/f32675fab9967b4217b63b9d85165a37f25cc133, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.158%2C$multiply_2.0317%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_70%2C$y_141\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/f32675fab9967b4217b63b9d85165a37f25cc133 2x\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Cafe owner Malcolm Skinner believes income inequality is fuelling discontent at the government.\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/%24zoom_0.158,%24multiply_0.7725,%24ratio_1.5,%24width_756,%24x_70,%24y_141\/t_crop_custom\/q_86,f_auto\/f32675fab9967b4217b63b9d85165a37f25cc133\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.158%2C$multiply_0.7725%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_70%2C$y_141\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/f32675fab9967b4217b63b9d85165a37f25cc133, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.158%2C$multiply_1.545%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_70%2C$y_141\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/f32675fab9967b4217b63b9d85165a37f25cc133 2x\" class=\"sc-d34e428-1 ldCIuB\"><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<p><svg viewbox=\"0 0 38 38\" height=\"38px\" width=\"38px\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-4 iMiYlW\"><g stroke=\"#F4F5F7\" stroke-width=\"2\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" transform=\"matrix(1, 0, 0, 1, 22.029383, 7.619553)\"><path d=\"M1 8l6.36396103-6.36396103M8 7V1H2\"><\/path><\/g><g stroke=\"#F4F5F7\" stroke-width=\"2\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" transform=\"matrix(1, 0, 0, 1, 7.0731, 21.523087)\"><path d=\"M8 1L1.63603897 7.36396103M1 2v6h6\"><\/path><\/g><\/svg><\/p><\/button><figcaption data-testid=\"figure-caption\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-0 SuAZY\"><span>Cafe owner Malcolm Skinner believes income inequality is fuelling discontent at the government.<\/span><cite class=\"sc-4820f69c-2 jfXEoI\"><span class=\"sc-4820f69c-3 jfhtQZ\">David Crowe<\/span><\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Malcolm Skinner, 43, a cafe owner based in Manchester, predicted unrest would grow as workers struggled on low incomes in a society with a wealthy elite.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I wouldn&rsquo;t say we&rsquo;re due a revolution, but there&rsquo;s a level of discontent in the populace which comes from income distribution,&rdquo; he said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"container\">\n<div class=\"sc-54c4a04e-0 yKpxh adWrapper noPrint sc-6f94ac39-3 fDyKLW\" data-testid=\"ad\"><small class=\"sc-54c4a04e-2 dhgkTF\">Advertisement<\/small><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-c502198b-0 NkURW\" readability=\"12.886740331492\">\n<p>&ldquo;The truth is that income inequality, which is only going to be worse, means that people create more discontent, and that creates instability in the government. And we&rsquo;ve got a load of instability coming.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><b><i>Get a note directly from our foreign <\/i><\/b><b><i>correspondents <\/i><\/b><b><i>on what&rsquo;s making headlines around the world. <\/i><\/b><b><i>Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter<\/i><\/b><b><i>.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div data-testid=\"article-footer\" class=\"sc-780f6c39-0 fWnQtB\">\n<div class=\"sc-780f6c39-1 bhFzjY noPrint\">\n<div class=\"sc-780f6c39-2 ksUUFP\">\n<div class=\"sc-f9e3ccff-0 kbEYga sc-780f6c39-3 fMMhlQ\" readability=\"6.3137254901961\"><button aria-checked=\"false\" aria-label=\"Save article to read later\" role=\"switch\" type=\"button\" class=\"sc-f9e3ccff-1 kmQlMe\"><svg fill=\"none\" height=\"24\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"1.5\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"24\" class=\"sc-d1b14060-0 TUyao\"><path d=\"M5.75 4C5.75 3.86193 5.86193 3.75 6 3.75H18C18.1381 3.75 18.25 3.86193 18.25 4L18.25 19.7709L12.8004 16.9682C12.2981 16.7099 11.7019 16.7099 11.1996 16.9682L5.75 19.7709L5.75 4Z\"><\/path><\/svg><span class=\"sc-f9e3ccff-2 gaKrMl\">Save<\/span><\/button>\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"sc-ba6ddcd9-0 yEdFV sc-d1b14060-3 cpmcTK\" role=\"tooltip\" readability=\"8.0816326530612\">\n<p class=\"sc-d1b14060-4 JmUoF\">You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n<p>Remove items from your saved list to add more.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-b5b9fd03-0 ksyHqK\">\n<div class=\"sc-b5b9fd03-1 LVIFj\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"David Crowe\" data-testid=\"author-avatar-image\" height=\"40\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/w_40,h_40,c_fill,g_auto:faces\/q_86,f_auto\/64ce109be56ceea0d7f4eb381757b1cddf9ee9b3\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/w_40,h_40,c_fill,g_auto:faces\/q_86,f_auto\/64ce109be56ceea0d7f4eb381757b1cddf9ee9b3, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/w_80%2Ch_80%2Cc_fill%2Cg_auto:faces\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/64ce109be56ceea0d7f4eb381757b1cddf9ee9b3 2x\" width=\"40\" class=\"sc-9a01536c-0 libeSR\"><span data-testid=\"author-bio\" class=\"sc-b5b9fd03-3 cVMGnz\"><span>David Crowe is Europe correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.<\/span><span class=\"sc-b5b9fd03-4 gMBkSk\">Connect via X<span> or <\/span>email.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"sc-3dbe4134-0 iIZygf sc-df8e6ee0-0 noPrint\" data-an-name=\"From our partners\" data-an-cu-group=\"everything\" data-an-cu-name=\"From our partners\" data-an-cu-position=\"4\" data-testid=\"from-our-partners-strap\">\n<header class=\"sc-84567ec1-0 hpMljf\">\n<h2 data-pb-type=\"hi\" class=\"sc-84567ec1-1 weWOF\"><span>From our partners<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"sc-df8e6ee0-1 iJvgCK\">\n<div class=\"container\">\n<div class=\"sc-54c4a04e-0 blRVQF adWrapper noPrint sc-df8e6ee0-2 gcpFZE\" data-testid=\"ad\"><small class=\"sc-54c4a04e-2 dhgkTF\">Advertisement<\/small><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"container\">\n<div class=\"sc-54c4a04e-0 blRVQF adWrapper noPrint sc-df8e6ee0-3 fIPZKC\" data-testid=\"ad\"><small class=\"sc-54c4a04e-2 dhgkTF\">Advertisement<\/small><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<p><sub>On these angry streets, voters deliver a very British backlash<\/sub><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Advertisement May 8, 2026 &mdash; 11:30am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. AAA Manchester: The earthquake in British politics could be felt on the city streets when locals walked to their polling stations on Thursday (London time). Angry at the state of&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"more-link-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/on-these-angry-streets-voters-deliver-a-very-british-backlash\/\" class=\"more-link\">Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &ldquo;On these angry streets, voters deliver a very British backlash&rdquo;<\/span> &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":20130,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20129","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20129","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20129"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20129\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/20130"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20129"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20129"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20129"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}