This is not surprising \u2013 research shows that men consume more political news and media than women, partially due to a \u201cchild penalty\u201d<\/a>, which can reduce the amount of news that mothers consume. As such, Reform\u2019s campaign may be cutting through to more men.<\/p>\n However, the women of Makerfield do seem to have noticed one key claim about Kenyon \u2013 and it\u2019s not something they view favourably. His old social media posts included a number of sexually explicit comments<\/a>, as well as sexist language. This included a post in which he described women who had an abortion as \u201ccowardly\u201d. <\/p>\n On a special edition of the BBC\u2019s Question Time<\/a> programme recorded in Makerfield, one female audience member stated: \u201cI\u2019d rather have a career politician than a plumber who\u2019s a sexist.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Previous research<\/a> shows that holding sexist attitudes and voting for a rightwing party in the UK are associated. This is relevant to understanding not just women\u2019s choices when it comes to the byelection, but also men\u2019s. Men who do not hold sexist attitudes will also be unlikely to lend their support to Reform.<\/p>\n But it\u2019s important not to give too much weight to Reform\u2019s choice of candidate or social media campaign as the causes of the gender differences seen in this recent polling<\/a>. It is well understood that women are now less likely<\/a> to vote for rightwing parties than men. This is especially the case when it comes to populist or far-right parties. <\/p>\n Women are more likely to vote for leftwing parties than men, a pattern<\/a> that played out in the UK\u2019s 2024 general election. The polling in Makerfield is consistent with this trend.<\/p>\n Yet the women of Makerfield, the choice of candidates by both parties, and Kenyon\u2019s controversial comments are likely to play an important role in support for Labour at the byelection. Labour and Burnham, currently mayor of Greater Manchester, must consolidate the left vote in the constituency, and make sure their voters turn out on the day. Reform\u2019s choice of Kenyon as its candidate may just help them to do this.<\/p>\n A candidate who has displayed controversial attitudes about women and issues around gender may make women who favour a third party, such as the Green party, more likely to prioritise keeping Reform out. They may see a vote for Labour as the best way to do this.<\/p>\n One problem for Labour nationally is that the left vote has fragmented even further since 2024, with support increasing for the Green party. Support for the Greens among younger, educated women<\/a> is now particularly strong. <\/p>\n While the Greens won only 4% of the vote in Makerfield at the last general election, if this were to increase it could be a real issue for Labour. This is not because the Greens are a threat to win the constituency, but because they could take support away from Burnham.<\/p>\n In the last byelection in Greater Manchester \u2013 Gorton and Denton \u2013 there were competing claims from Labour and the Greens about who was best placed to keep Reform out. Then, Reform had fielded a different candidate with controversial attitudes to gender issues<\/a>. This may have contributed to a Green win, with late-deciding women<\/a> potentially playing a role in the result.<\/p>\n In Makerfield, unlike in Gorton and Denton, it is much more obvious that women should consolidate behind Labour if they want to keep out a controversial Reform candidate. This may help Labour and bring back women who have voted (or have considered voting) Green.<\/p>\n On top of this, Reform\u2019s decision to stick with a candidate with attitudes that seemed to make women in the Question Time audience visibly angry<\/a> may motivate women to turn out and vote.<\/p>\nHow might anger affect the vote?<\/h2>\n
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