Voters in Makerfield go to the polls on June 18.Reform UK have been accused of “dragging politics into the gutter” after one of the party’s councillors posted a fake opinion poll about the Makerfield by-election.
Sarah Mason claimed Reform and Labour are neck-and-neck on 44% each just over a week out from polling day on June 18.
The councillor's now-deleted tweet.She later posted on X: “I thought I’d join in with the made-up polls.”
Mason admitted she had made up the poll.Mason, who is a councillor in Scarborough, has now deleted her original post after an online backlash.
According to the most recent poll in the seat, Labour’s Andy Burnham is 10 points ahead of Reform’s Robert Kenyon.
Reform’s campaign has been dogged by revelations about Kenyon’s social media history.
It emerged he had shared a series of sexist, anti-vaccine, anti-abortion and pro-Russia comments online over the years – including lewd remarks about presenter Carol Vorderman and confusing statements about whether he even voted for Brexit himself.
A Labour spokesperson said: “Reform are dragging politics into the gutter.
“They’re stooping to new lows online because they know Robert Kenyon isn’t fit to be an MP – yet they won’t admit it.
“Instead of spreading misinformation online they should be forcing their candidate to apologise to the public for the vile comments he’s made about women and disgusting false narratives he’s peddled over the Manchester Arena bombing.
“While Reform continues to be mired in scandal and they reach for desperate underhand tactics, Labour’s Andy Burnham is determined to deliver the investment and fairer future all communities across Makerfield deserve.”
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