Voters in Makerfield who are leaning toward the hard-right Restore Britain party have been quizzed about the party's local candidate, who remains elusive even to many supporters. Residents in the ward on the outskirts of Wigan, Greater Manchester, are preparing to head to the polls tomorrow in a fiercely contested by-election that could prove decisive for Labour under Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has pledged to throw everything at the by-election, with the right-wing group's candidate Robert Kenyon vying for votes. However, the right-wing vote could be split by Restore Britain, an ultra-nationalist political group with extreme views on immigration that has gained traction in recent months, becoming a headache for Reform.
Candidate remains unknown to supporters
Restore Britain, led by its only MP, Rupert Lowe, has put forward Rebecca Shepherd, a 53-year-old local businesswoman, as its Makerfield candidate. But when residents planning to vote Restore were quizzed about the upcoming election, many appeared unsure who the candidate is.
Local man Sean, 56, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: 'It's a lady, I think. I don't know much about her. I'm voting because of what the party stands for. And because of Rupert Lowe.'
Adam Rayley, 35, a roofer, admitted he doesn't 'know much about the candidate.' He said: 'I just feel like Restore's views are most like my own. They have the same views. I'm not racist, but I feel like the immigrants coming in now aren't checked. Our borders are wide open and we've got our own families and homes to care for. I'm struggling myself, I'm a full-time carer for my girlfriend, and we've got three kids altogether. And there's nothing for us. I do feel strongly on that.'
Joanna Lapniewsky, 64, an ex-Army officer and cleaner who works at the Restore HQ at the local community centre, said she has never seen the candidate but has been told that 'she's really down to earth.' Only one person told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that they have seen Shepherd from a distance on her way to 'stables somewhere in Wigan.'
Campaign materials focus on Reform and Labour
Residents said leaflets stuffed through their letterboxes have mainly come from Reform and Labour. Polling stations in Makerfield will open at 7am and close at 10pm on Thursday, with a nerve-wracking count ahead for the town.
Full list of Makerfield by-election candidates: Jake Austin, Liberal Democrats; Andy Burnham, Labour Party; Dan Clarke, Libertarian Party; Alan 'Howlin' Laud Hope, The Official Monster Raving Loony Party; Sarah Wakefield, Green Party; Peter Ward, Rejoin EU; Michael Winstanley, Conservative Party.
