Situated in England’s north west between Manchester and Liverpool, the constituency of Makerfield has not previously been known for political high drama. Since its formation in 1983 it has been solidly Labour, as safe a seat as you’re likely to find anywhere in the country. But times are changing. When Tony Blair was swept to power in 1997, local MP Ian McCartney, a Scot born to a Labour politician father and trade unionist mother, held the seat with a majority of more than 26,000.