NHS or Immigration in Heywood & Middleton?

LABOUR is trying to make the NHS the core issue in the Heywood and Middleton by-election up here, but Ed Miliband has been accused of 'shying away' from immigration.  Some people regard the issue of immigration as what the Guardian this week described as the 'number one bugbear of many voters'.


In a café in Alkrington in Middleton on Tuesday, voters pledged support for Ukip as Farage toured the room shaking hands.  Tony Sheehan, a 41-year-old electrician, said he was a former Labour voter and had simply 'had enough – of immigration.  I want British jobs for British workers.'  Sharon Capps, 56, said: 'We want our country back.'

This week put Labour’s share slightly lower, on 47%, with Ukip second on 28%.  Some 49% of those who said they will vote for Ukip wanted to 'send a message that I’m unhappy with the party I usually support'.


Nigel Farage insisted a win remained possible:  'We’ve got terrific momentum. You’ve got to remember where we started from – 2.6% in the last election, and yet one of the  opinion polls had us in the 30s at the weekend.  I do think turnout will be key...'


Up here in Heywood it seems to be a toss up as to what will most excite the electorate between the NHS and immigration at the moment.