BRITAIN DECIDES - ROCHDALE

Migrants put strain on down-at-heel mill town

In an area made famous by a political attack on ‘a bigoted woman’, fears over foreigners run high
Carol Midgley
The Times
Peter Jordan, whose family have been selling produce in Rochdale market from their farm for almost 100 years, was against joining the EEC in 1973. Both he and his wife, Eileen, will be voting to leave
Peter Jordan, whose family have been selling produce in Rochdale market from their farm for almost 100 years, was against joining the EEC in 1973. Both he and his wife, Eileen, will be voting to leave
JACK HILL/THE TIMES
Carol Midgley
The Times

Six years ago Gordon Brown walked down a Rochdale street and into a whole heap of trouble. During the 2010 general election campaign he met Gillian Duffy, a pensioner and lifelong Labour voter, who expressed concern about immigration. A microphone mistakenly left on caught him calling her a “bigoted woman” and the disastrous vignette was seized upon as proof of the political elite’s disdain for the grassroots voter.

So today, with border control high on the agenda, what is the prevailing mood in Rochdale regarding the EU referendum? Geoff Taylor, who runs a fruit and veg stall in its open market, is in no doubt how he’ll vote. “I’m out. Definitely out,” he says vigorously from behind his stall. “Europe’s a federal state led by