Despair and hope in Blackpool as the political circus comes to town

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All eyes will be on Blackpool South when a by-election is held to replace shamed MP Scott Benton

It's the seaside resort famous for its illuminations - where Rishi Sunak's electoral woes could soon be lit up for all to see.

In 2019, Blackpool had eight of the country’s 10 most deprived neighbourhoods - and 12 of the top 20. People in the town also earn less than in any other local authority area and it has more drug deaths than anywhere else in the country. In Blackpool town centre Edison Steel, an 18-year-old bartender, told us money had been put into the town centre lately but bemoaned the area's crime rates and abandoned buildings. He said: "I'm definitely leaving this year. I've got one bed flat and the rent is ridiculous for what it is, just tiny, cramped. And there's just no opportunities here compared to the other cities, even in the North.

A little way back from the seafront in the Waterloo Road area just a few hundred yards from the thrills and excitement of Blackpool Pleasure Beach, life is hard and poverty is widespread. She adds: "I don't want a by-election. We're going to get a General Election so what is the point in having a by-election? It's more funds being spent, when those funds need to be used elsewhere. Why use that £300,000 pounds when we're going to have a General Election?"

"Many of us see that we've got nothing but we're doing exactly what we can, a business like this that took over 12-14 months ago that is continually doing as much as they can, continually taking risks, continually taking chances continually opening the doors for other people. She might be selling sausage and bacon, but to call them a cafe is a disgrace really."

"I genuinely have to say I have never seen so many smiling faces in my life," says Ms Moss, who grew up locally and says the display brings back memories of outings with her grandparents. "The response so far has been absolutely phenomenal, people coming through the doors, not necessarily knowing what to expect, but then coming out and just being enthralled by what they've seen within.

They face a challenge from a resurgent Reform UK, which will be unveiling a local charity worker as its candidate this week, while Andrew Cregan is running for the Liberal Democrats.

 

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