MAKERFIELD — A Survation poll, commissioned by the campaign group 38 Degrees, found that voters in the Makerfield constituency support specific policies and indicated a preference against candidates who post offensive online content. The survey collected responses from 518 voters ahead of the June 18 byelection.
Fifty-five percent of respondents said they would be less likely to vote for a candidate who had posted offensive material online. In contrast, 31% of respondents stated that offensive online posts would not affect their vote, while 14% were unsure.
Past online posts by Robert Kenyon contain the statement: "I'm sexist, sorry but I am." Kenyon also used a derogatory term for gay individuals in prior online posts. Other posts Kenyon made suggested women obtained abortions so they could engage in sexual activity freely. Broadcaster Caroline Vorderman publicly requested an apology from Kenyon regarding these past comments.
The survey also detailed voter opinions on economic and labor policies. Approximately 75% of surveyed residents support returning water companies to public ownership, while 13% favor keeping them in private hands. More than half, 54%, supported a wealth tax on assets exceeding £10 million, compared to 28% who opposed new wealth taxes.
Fifty-seven percent of surveyed voters support maintaining first-day sick pay guarantees for all workers, and 26% want to remove this guarantee. Over half of surveyed voters indicated support for capping political donations to parties and individual politicians, with 38% opposing such caps. Seventy-two percent of voters want the minimum wage provision aligned with the cost of living to be maintained, while 12% want to remove it. Furthermore, 66% of surveyed voters supported retaining paid bereavement leave following pregnancy loss before 24 weeks, 11% wanted to end it, and 22% were unsure. Forty-seven percent of voters want to maintain the statutory ban on fire-and-rehire practices, with 42% wanting to remove it. Constituency residents have also raised concerns about the cost of living during the campaign period. The Labour government's Employment Rights Act recently passed through the UK Parliament.
Damian Lyons Lowe, chief executive of the polling firm, said, "Voters in Makerfield hold strong views on economic fairness and accountability, and those views cut across traditional party lines. The breadth of support for water renationalisation, a wealth tax and donation caps indicates that these are not fringe positions but mainstream concerns." Veronica Hawking, a campaign group director, said, "Returning water companies to public ownership, introducing a wealth tax to fund public services and capping political donations are all policies a majority of voters here support. With all eyes on this byelection, politicians of all parties, and in both Makerfield and beyond, should take note and be ready to fight fearlessly for change like this."
Andy Burnham is the Labour Party candidate in the constituency byelection and currently serves as the mayor of Greater Manchester. Former Member of Parliament Josh Simons withdrew from the race to accommodate Burnham's candidacy.