Reform UK's Vote-Splitting Hypocrisy Exposed as Makerfield By-Election Looms
A former UKIP leader accuses Reform UK of exploiting Makerfield voters for national political gain, exposing hypocrisy over the party's deliberate 2024 vote-splitting strategy that handed Labour power.
Nigel Farage and Reform UK are accusing Restore Britain of "splitting the vote" in Makerfield — the very same weapon Reform itself wielded in 2024 to hand Labour a supermajority, a strategy Farage openly admitted was designed to destroy the Conservative Party. Henry Bolton OBE sees a familiar pattern playing out in Makerfield. The former UKIP leader, now serving as SDP spokesperson, watches both Labour and Reform UK weaponize a local by-election for their own national ambitions.
The people of Makerfield deserve better than being treated as instruments in someone else's political strategy, Bolton argues. They deserve better than being used as pawns in a national battle that has nothing to do with their community. Bolton laid bare Reform UK's hypocrisy in a public statement. He pointed directly at the party's 2024 campaign to destroy the Conservative Party, arguing that Reform leaders understood the consequences all along.
"Nigel Farage and Reform created vote splitting as a political weapon," Bolton stated. "Nigel, Zia and Richard knew full well that in doing so they would hand Labour the General Election and a huge majority."
The 2024 general election results bear out Bolton's accusation. Reform captured 32 percent of the Makerfield vote, finishing 13 points behind Labour's Josh Simons. That outcome reflected a deliberate strategy. Reform's leadership openly targeted the Tories.
Ben Habib, Reform's deputy leader, told Unherd the Conservative Party "needs to be obliterated." Farage himself declared "I'm going to destroy the Conservative party" in November 2024.
The Makerfield by-election itself was engineered for national political purposes. Simons resigned as MP on May 14, 2026, specifically to allow Andy Burnham to stand. The Labour National Executive Committee approved Burnham for selection on May 15, having previously blocked him from contesting the Gorton & Denton by-election in February.
Wes Streeting resigned as Health Secretary on May 14, signaling a leadership challenge against Keir Starmer. The timing connects the by-election to Labour's own internal power struggles.
Polling evidence shows Burnham's personal vote is the only thing keeping Labour competitive. Professor John Curtice says Labour would have "less than 5 percent chance" in the Makerfield by-election without Burnham.
Survation analysis puts Burnham at 45 percent versus Reform at 43 percent. Another Labour candidate would attract just 27 percent while Reform gets 53 percent. Britain Elects aggregates show Labour at 39 percent versus Reform at 36 percent with Burnham.
Reform has vowed to make the seat a national priority. Farage promised to "throw absolutely everything at it." Deputy leader Richard Tice said Reform has a "cracking" chance and will be "throwing everything possible" at the contest.
Reform MP Andrew Rosindell called on Conservatives to "step aside" and not field a candidate. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch issued a sharp rebuke: "I will do NO deals!"
Restore Britain confirmed it will field a candidate after "overwhelming demand" from local members. Party leader Rupert Lowe rejected Reform's monopoly claim.
"I entirely disagree. Voters are not the property of Farage or Reform," Lowe said. Restore Britain transitioned from a pressure group to a registered political party on Feb. 13, 2026.
Bolton argues both major parties are exploiting Makerfield residents for national gain. "Both Labour and Reform are using this by-election for their own national political purposes and the people of Makerfield are being used," he stated. "They deserve better than simply being treated as instruments in somebody else's political strategy."
The former UKIP leader emphasized that Reform voters are "very decent, good, patriotic people" disillusioned with the old parties. Their frustration is real and legitimate.
The core issue, Bolton says, is whether those voters should automatically defer to Reform without question. "No party owns the patriotic vote and no party should be attempting to build a cartel type political monopoly," he concluded.