Reform UK's candidate for the Makerfield by-election, Robert Kenyon, has been found to have posted messages casting doubt on the seriousness of Covid-19 and the effectiveness of vaccines, according to archived social media posts. The plumber, who previously stood for Nigel Farage's party in the 2024 general election, used a now-deleted X account to share his views.
In July 2022, Kenyon responded to a post about a new variant, writing: 'It's not making people sicker, I've no booster and had covid last week asymptomatic.' When challenged, he cited his own experience and that of four others on a course. He also advised a person ill with Covid to 'stop having boosters' and take vitamins.
In February 2023, Kenyon quote-tweeted a Sky News post featuring Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty urging booster vaccinations, saying Whitty 'can fuck right off'. He also posted on a now-defunct rugby league forum in January 2022, suggesting news of a variant affecting children might be 'to scare parents into getting their kids jabbed', adding 'I smell a rat.'
Labour's Sharon Hodgson, a junior health minister, condemned the comments, stating: 'Over 200,000 people died from Covid across Britain. How anyone seeking public office can have sought to have minimised the risk posed by the pandemic and undermined confidence in vaccines is beyond the pale.'
A Reform UK spokesperson defended Kenyon, saying: 'Robert had all his Covid jabs during the pandemic and his children are fully up to date on every vaccination. These comments were made long before Rob was in politics. He isn't a polished, professional politician and doesn't speak like one.'
