- Reform UK 's significant defeat in the Makerfield by-election has triggered internal recriminations, with a senior party board member publicly acknowledging the party has a “woman problem”.
- The party's candidate in Makerfield, Robert Kenyon, faced widespread criticism for past crude social media remarks about women and for proudly identifying as a “sexist”, which alienated potential female voters.
- Despite the defeat, Reform UK declined invitations to appear on prominent Sunday morning political shows, including Sky and GB News, with a spokesman stating they typically only participate if invited by the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg show.
- Questions are now being raised within the party regarding its tactics, the lack of clear policies, and a consistent failure to select suitable candidates for high-profile by-elections, following previous controversies like Matt Goodwin's selection for Gorton and Denton.
- Gawain Towler, a long-time ally of Nigel Farage, described the Makerfield result as a 'wake-up call' in his substack, urging the party to broaden its appeal to women and criticising the party's dismissal of Kenyon's remarks as mere 'banter'.
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