Immigration, revitalising high streets and saving the NHS: Wolverhampton residents on shock election

The Labour Party is leading with 45 per cent approval, with the Conservatives trailing behind at 24 per cent, opinion polls published May 22 show.

Reform was polling at 11 per cent, the Lib Dems at 10 per cent and the Green Party at six per cent. This is based on a seven-day rolling average.

Today, locals in Wolverhampton have given their reaction to the surprise call, along with what they hope will be prioritised for the city in the future.

The city seems split at the moment on whether to keep the Conservatives in power or kick them out and let Keir Starmer take the wheel, and their policies will decide where the city's heart sits in the end.

Immigration, revitalising the high street and bringing the NHS back to its best are high on the lists of locals, as they claim we're 'left to rot' when needing an ambulance, while others claim the Conservative government has done 'very little' for the city and a third said Mr Starmer is 'trying to be Blair'.

Wolverhampton local Matthew Ball, 32, told the Express & Star: "I'm very happy with the snap election, I was worried he would be leaving it until, perhaps, the winter.

"It can't come soon enough to be honest, the Conservative government - in the last 10 years - have done very little for the country and cities like ours.

"I would be very happy if Labour swept the floor with it and took every seat possible.

"In the first 12 months I want to see a more ambitious plan for infrastructure, and a general feeling of hope and regeneration, which I think a completely new party, like Labour, will achieve."

Transport worker Andy Hendricks, 56, said he hopes to see a greater focus on immigration, and a solid plan to breathe new life into high-street shopping.

He said: "I think the election needs to happen, it's about time the public had the option to vote on who they want in power - rather than Rishi who was elected by his peers.

"To be fair, we have seen some development in Wolverhampton and Andy Street did a good job, so I was disappointed to see him not get another run.

"The region needs immigration sorting first, that's what I think they should focus on as a number one priority.

"A second issue is the city centre, we need to get the public back into the shops. If we can get the high street back to normal and a place where people can enjoy the experience of being in the centre then it will help."

Speaking on which way he'll vote, Andy said he's going to 'look at both parties' and make a choice only then.

He said: "I look at Starmer, I think he's trying to be another Blair, who I voted for because I thought he was good - but I didn't like how he handled the Iraq war, the borders and the general progression he made.

"I think if not for Covid we would still have Boris in charge, but I'm open to all parties."

Pensioner Malcolm James, 73, said the Conservatives have done a job for the region - and the country as a whole - in their more than a decade-long spell in the hot-seat.

He went on to say he will 'never' be able to vote Labour.

He has lived in Wolverhampton all of his life, and said he called the election decision the day before it happened.

He said: "I thought Rishi was brave, he stood there in the rain and told the country what his plan is, when he could have sat in his office with his advisors and done it there.

"I don't think we've done too bad around here under his Government, we've had the Ukraine war and Covid and I'm afraid we've had to spend money on those issues.

"My main priority is immigration, it can't continue the way it's going because it isn't sensible.

"There's no way I can vote Labour, they waste money."

A fourth voter who did not want to be named said 'it's about time' an election was called, citing 'corruption', issues with the sewer system and bad infrastructure as his reasons.

He said: "I'm speechless about what they’ve [Conservatives] done to the whole country. Wherever you look you find corruption and rundown services, you can't even get an ambulance these days, you're left to rot away.

"I vote Labour, I have for my whole life. If they get into power in July I hope they deal with the roads, housing, NHS, education and youth services."