Makerfield voters have their say on sexism allegations against Reform UK candidate Robert Kenyon

The Makerfield candidate has come under fire over claims that he posted derogatory and sexist comments on social media.

These allegedly included lewd remarks about Carol Vorderman, as well as accusing women of having abortions for "vanity purposes.”

The allegations have been front and centre of by-election conversation over recent days, but on the ground in Winstanley, residents are more divided – and typically along party lines.

"Those supporting Labour condemned the alleged posts as “disgusting” and “idiotic.”

However, it does not appear the alleged remarks will be enough to put off those who have already decided to back Reform, with one resident likening the alleged comments to "pub banter” and others expressing scepticism about the legitimacy of the claims against Mr Kenyon.

Recent retiree Paul Bond told us he was a "big Andy Burnham fan.”

He believes the Greater Manchester mayor would make a "great Prime Minister” and is the “right guy.”

Reform UK, and “especially Nigel Farage,” whom he described as a “massive grifter,” were a “pet hate” of his, the 66-year-old said.

He added: “They’re a party of hate and division, which is exactly what we don’t need at the moment.”

Software development manager Peter Gooch, 51, also believes Reform’s policies are "driven by division” and “nastiness.”

He said: “I don’t think they’ve got much substance.

“It’s all about the small boats. For me, the biggest problems aren’t the small boats, it’s the bigger boats that are stuck in the East.”

On the allegations surrounding Mr Kenyon, he added: “I can’t believe anyone would vote for people who say things like that, quite frankly.”

“Why would you put it into print,” he continued.

“What an idiot. If you’re voting for him and he’s writing that sort of rubbish down…”

Among Reform supporters, however, the posts allegedly made by Mr Kenyon do not seem to be impacting on their voting intentions.

One local compared the comments to "banter down the pub,” while there was a general feeling of scepticism over whether the posts were genuinely from the Reform candidate.

Wayne Croft, who works as a corrugator, told us he believes the area "really needs” a “massive change.”

The 55-year-old said: “We’ve had too much of Labour.

“They’re untrustworthy, no-one likes them and we do want a change.

"Everyone I know are all massively voting for Reform [and] Robert Kenyon.”

When asked about the alleged posts by Mr Kenyon, he asked: “Is it not just scaremongering or lies? So long as it was only comments.”

He said the allegations were "definitely” not going to put him off voting Reform.

Decorator Michael Dumican, also 55, said he too would be voting for Reform because of previous Labour policies that he said "affected [him] personally.”

He gave Andy Burnham’s clean air zone initiative as an example, saying he sold his van because of it only for the scheme to be scrapped.

On Mr Kenyon’s comments, he added: “If someone had said that in the pub on a Sunday afternoon, it would have just been taken as banter.

"I know this is a political kind of thing, but…

“I don’t know, really. Has he actually said it?”

A local resident who just gave her name as Marie said she had not yet decided how she would be voting.

She said she had seen conversation on social media about Mr Kenyon’s alleged comments, but added she did not know if it was ‘true or not’.

She added: “If they are true, then you don’t want that. But you just don’t know, do you?

“You don’t know whether they are true or not. There’s lots of stuff going about Andy Burnham, as well.

"There’s lots of stuff going about the other candidates.”

Reform UK continues to back its candidate, with a party spokesman saying: “These comments were made before Coun Kenyon entered politics.

"Rob is perfectly entitled to his own personal opinions on abortion. In this country, this issue has always been a matter of conscience, regardless of which party a politician represents.

“Rob isn’t a polished, professional politician and doesn’t speak like one.

"That’s precisely why he’ll be a straight-talking, effective voice for normal working people in Makerfield.”

Labour party chair Anna Turley said: “It’s a really important election, particularly when you look at the candidates, the Reform candidate who is reportedly coming out with some horrendous misogyny, sexism, some really vile comments on social media, or you’ve got someone like Andy Burnham with a terrific track record of delivery, who is a local lad who really cares about the community there, and is going to be a brilliant representative for them.”

Makerfield residents go to the polls on June 18 in what is seen as one of the most important by-elections in British political history.

The 14 candidates contesting the seat are as follows:

Jake Austin (Liberal Democrats), Count Binface (Count Binface Party), Andy Burnham (Labour), Dan Clarke (Libertarian Party), John Dyer (Independent), Ed Gemmell (Climate Party), Paul Gould (independent), Alan “Howlin” Laud Hope (Monster Raving Loony Party), Robert Kenyon (Reform UK), Robert Pownall (Protect The Wild), Rebecca Shepherd (Restore Britain), Sarah Wakefield (Greens), Peter Ward (Rejoin EU) and Michael Winstanley (Conservative).