Nigel Farage Attributes Makerfield By-Election Loss to Anti-Starmer Voter Tactics

Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, has attributed the party's poor showing in the recent Makerfield by-election to a tactical voting pattern where electors prioritised blocking a Labour government over supporting his party. Farage expressed his 'disappointment' with the result, which saw Reform UK garner only 10.9% of the vote, equating to 3,674 ballots cast.

The by-election, triggered by the resignation of former Labour MP Yvonne Fovargue, concluded with Labour's Tristram Stubbs securing a commanding victory. Stubbs received 17,926 votes, establishing a substantial majority of 12,028 over Conservative candidate William Townend, who obtained 5,898 votes. The Liberal Democrats' Richard Good received 1,228 votes, placing them fourth.

Farage suggested that a segment of the electorate, particularly those opposed to Keir Starmer's Labour Party, opted to support the Conservatives, perceiving them as the only viable option to prevent a Labour win. This strategic voting, according to Farage, undermined Reform UK's potential inroads in the constituency. Despite the setback, Farage indicated the party would analyse the results as part of its broader electoral strategy.