Reform UK's candidate for the Makerfield byelection, Robert Kenyon, has been found to have criticised Brexit as an economically self-harming project in posts on a defunct rugby league forum from 2016. The comments, first reported by the Telegraph, raise further questions about his commitment to the party's flagship policy.
In the posts, Kenyon wrote: 'All Brexit means is we’ve shot our economy in the foot for the short term... they peddled the nationalistic pish and got [the] working class vote, bit silly if you ask me.' He also predicted the UK would end up under EU rules without a say.
Kenyon, a local plumber, has previously faced scrutiny over other online remarks, including scepticism about vaccines, support for Russia's 2014 invasion of Crimea, and interactions with far-right figures. He also endorsed a lewd comment about Carol Vorderman, who has asked for an apology.
When asked about the Brexit comments, Kenyon told the Telegraph he had voted for Brexit at the time, but admitted 'people were entitled to ask serious questions about what came next and how the campaign was conducted on both sides'. He added that he now believes Brexit was the right decision.
Reform UK has defended Kenyon, stating his views were expressed before he stood for election and that he is not a professional politician. The byelection on 18 June will see Kenyon challenge Labour's Andy Burnham.
