Greater Manchester Police has confirmed an investigation is underway in Makerfield ahead of the by-election after a constituent reported that his Labour Party sign was stolen from his front garden.
Constituent Slams 'Scummy Tactics'
A constituent in the Hindley Green area of Wigan has hit out at 'scummy tactics' after the sign was taken. The man, a Labour voter, shared an image of cut cable ties with the Manchester Evening News. The sign had been attached to a gatepost at the front of his family home.
“It is just getting a bit silly now,” said the 42-year-old constituent. “It was definitely politically-motivated. Why else was it taken? People are entitled to their political views. It is scummy tactics.”
He claimed a similar Labour sign was also stolen from a home further along the same road earlier this week. “I think it's important that this is publicised because it's just disgusting,” added the man, who also revealed a photograph of a partially-ripped Andy Burnham poster on a fence nearby.
“The police have been contacted and I have contacted the Labour Party as well. It's just terrible tactics.”
By-Election Context
Voters in the constituency go to the polls on Thursday in what is described as the most pivotal by-election in decades. The Labour Party candidate, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, is said to be likely to challenge Sir Keir Starmer for the party leadership if he wins and becomes an MP once more. The by-election is widely seen as a two-horse race between Mr Burnham and Reform's Robert Kenyon.
The constituent said he was approached by the party on the doorstep during campaigning and agreed to display the sign. He told the M.E.N.: “They knocked on a few weeks ago and asked whether we intended to vote Labour, and we said yes. We also agreed to have a sign in the garden. We were happy to have the sign up and that was about two to three weeks ago.”
“It was in the front garden, zip-tied to the gatepost. There were about four or five zip ties in place and it was secure. You can see where the ties have been cut with a knife or something. We heard a noise last night [Wednesday] but thought nothing of it. My wife went out this morning to take the kids to school and realised that the sign had gone. It has been cut and removed. It has not been thrown in the road or dumped in the bushes. It has been taken away. We have reported it to the police. A sign at the home of a family down the road has also gone. I think it is shoddy really.”
It is understood the sign was cut down between 9pm and 10pm on Wednesday night.
Candidates and Police Response
The candidates running in the by-election are: Jake Austin (Lib Dems), Count Binface (Count Binface Party), Andy Burnham (Labour), Dan Clarke (Libertarian Party), Ed Gemmell (Climate Party), Paul Gould (Independent), Robert Kenyon (Reform), Robert Pownall (Independent), Rebecca Shepherd (Restore Britain), Sarah Wakefield (Green Party), and Michael Winstanly (Conservatives).
Greater Manchester Police confirmed it has received the report and that an investigation was ongoing. A force spokesperson said no arrests have been made as yet.
