Louise Niven

[Andy Burnham @andyburnham]

I can confirm that I will be requesting the permission of the NEC to stand in the Makerfield by-election.

I grew up in this area and have lived here for 25 years. I care deeply about it and its people. I know they have been let down by national politics.

Ten years ago, I decided to leave Westminster. Why? Because, after 16 years, I came to the conclusion that our national political system does not work for areas like ours. I learnt this fighting its failure to invest in the Wigan borough, for justice for the Hillsborough families and against its treatment of Greater Manchester during the pandemic.

Over the last decade, I have been challenging this failure from the outside and building a new and better way of doing politics. We have built Greater Manchester into the fastest-growing city-region in the UK and put buses back under public control, introducing a £2 fare cap to help people with cost-of-living pressures.

However, there is only so much that can be done from Greater Manchester. Much bigger change is needed at a national level if everyday life is to be made more affordable again. This is why I now seek people’s support to return to Parliament: to bring the change we have brought to Greater Manchester to the whole of the UK and make politics work properly for people.

Millions are struggling and they need the Labour Government to succeed. It has already made changes to make life better for them in its first two years. After this week, we owe it to people to come back together as a Labour movement, giving the Prime Minister and the Government the space and stability they need as the by-election takes place.

I want to recognise the difficult decision taken by Josh Simons and the sacrifice he and his family are making. I have worked closely with him as Mayor on issues like flooding and illegal waste dumping and have seen first-hand how effective he has been. He has put the communities of Makerfield first, made a real difference for them and should take great pride in that.

Finally, I truly do not take a single vote for granted and will work hard to regain the trust of people in the Makerfield constituency, many of whom have long supported our party but lost faith in recent times. We will change Labour for the better and make it a party you can believe in again.

ENDS

[Louise Niven @Hayner]

@AndyBurnhamGM Yes Andy!!

[Louise Niven @Hayner]

@Keir_Starmer Yes!!

[Impeach Trump a 3rd Time! @Christo12919382]

This should never go away until the Epstein files are released.

[Louise Niven @Hayner]

@georgeedpainter @edpalmeruk 😂

[Gary Neville @GNev2]

They did!

[Louise Niven @Hayner]

@JeremyClarkson An apology to Meghan herself would be appropriate.

[Ashley James @ashleyljames]

People who have more issue with Meghan Markle than they do with Prince Andrew tells you everything you need to know about those people.

[Louise Niven @Hayner]

@JasonManford Absolutely disgusting thing to say about anyone. How it got published too! Both man and paper should be pulled up on this. It’s time we left Meghan Markle alone. It goes back to the saying “if you have nothing nice to say, say nothing”.

[Gina @ginamartinuk]

Retweet if you think big media channels have a responsibility, when women are dying every three days from misogyny and male violence, not to legitimise and embolden abusive misogynistic views.

ITV should fire Jeremy Clarkson.

[Louise Niven @Hayner]

@bushontheradio Well done Andy xx

[Andy Bush @bushontheradio]

I know this time of year can be particularly tough so on Thursday 22nd December I'm spending the day hitting the phones chatting to those who need a bit of support. If you're struggling a bit and you think it would help drop me a message and I'll give you a call.

[Louise Niven @Hayner]

@SnoopDogg Amazing idea!!

[Louise Niven @Hayner]

@piersmorgan Please give it a rest

[Louise Niven @Hayner]

@LynCarps247qdds She mocked herself. What is wrong with you people?!

[Louise Niven @Hayner]

@wendywoo898 @pandoratweets They didn’t mock the queen. She was taking the mick out of the fact she didn’t know how to curtsey

[Louise Niven @Hayner]

@Mteehall @piersmorgan 100% agree! The whole thing was about how they were treated by the media. All this hate is infuriating.

[Louise Niven @Hayner]

@luk_cek @lin_chivers @piersmorgan She was mocking herself

[Louise Niven @Hayner]

@lin_chivers @piersmorgan Agreed. I feel like I watched an entirely different programme from all the haters.

[Louise Niven @Hayner]

@_NoNahNope_ @AndrewEQuinn @benjaminbutter She was mocking herself