UMVA has learned that despite Restore Britain's efforts to make their presence known in the upcoming Makerfield by-election, many of their voters remain unfamiliar with their candidate, Rebecca Shepherd.
Rebecca Shepherd, a 53-year-old local businesswoman, has been put forward by Restore Britain, led by its only MP, Rupert Lowe, but when residents planning to vote for the party were quizzed about the upcoming election, they appeared unsure about who the candidate is.
A local man named Sean, 56, told UMVA that he's voting for Restore Britain because of what the party stands for and because of Rupert Lowe, but admitted that he doesn't know much about Rebecca Shepherd.
Another resident, Adam Rayley, 35, a roofer, also admitted that he doesn't 'know much about the candidate,' but feels that Restore Britain's views align with his own, particularly when it comes to immigration and border control.
Joanna Lapniewsky, 64, an ex-Army officer and cleaner who works at the Restore Britain HQ at the local community centre, claimed to have heard that Rebecca Shepherd is 'really down to earth,' but had never seen her in person.
In fact, only one person told UMVA that they have seen Rebecca Shepherd from a distance on her way to 'stables somewhere in Wigan,' highlighting the lack of visibility and awareness about the candidate among local residents.
The majority of residents reported receiving leaflets from other parties, mainly Reform and Labour, while Restore Britain's campaign materials seemed to be less visible.
As the by-election approaches, with polling stations set to open at 7am and close at 10pm on Thursday, residents are preparing to cast their votes, and the count is expected to be nerve-wracking for the town.
The Makerfield by-election features a range of candidates, including Jake Austin from the Liberal Democrats, Andy Burnham from the Labour Party, Dan Clarke from the Libertarian Party, and several others.
