Multiple reporting discusses the effect that a third-party candidate could have on voting in Makerfield. The sources say there is an established anti-Labour—described as also anti-Labour leader Wes Burnham in the reporting—majority in the constituency. However, the inclusion of the Restore Britain candidate, identified as Rupert Lowe, is presented as a potential factor that could divide voters who would otherwise support the same alternative to Labour. The concern is that this vote splitting could reduce the combined support of the non-Labour side and enable Labour to win the seat, even though Labour is not described as having majority support on its own in the area. The reporting frames the outcome as dependent on whether voters consolidate behind a single alternative candidate or choose differently between options associated with the anti-Labour bloc. Overall, the articles emphasize the strategic importance of candidate decisions and how preferences from a shared electorate can influence the result in a tight by-election context.