Reform UK's candidate for the Makerfield by-election, Robert Kenyon, has faced criticism after it emerged that he grew up and attended primary school in Merseyside, despite the party claiming he was 'born and bred' in the constituency. Electoral roll records show Kenyon was registered to vote at a family home in Haydock, within the St Helens North constituency, between 2006 and 2014.
A former neighbour from Haydock expressed irritation at the claim, stating: 'I know for a fact that he didn’t grow up within the Makerfield constituency. He grew up in Haydock. This characterising himself as a Makerfield lad born and bred is quite grating.' The neighbour added that he would have no issue if Kenyon had moved to Ashton as an adult and stood for the area.
Outgoing Makerfield MP Josh Simons criticised Kenyon, saying: 'Don’t trust Robert Kenyon. He is not a man of his word. He calls himself Mr Makerfield. Turns out, he grew up in Merseyside.' Simons also noted that Kenyon missed the first full council meeting since his election as a Wigan councillor.
A Reform UK spokesman defended Kenyon, stating he was born in Billinge Hospital, attended St Edmund Arrowsmith High School, and has lived in Makerfield for 13 years while running a local business. The party argued that Simons, who was 'parachuted into Makerfield from Cambridge', was being hypocritical.
Kenyon has also faced controversy over past social media comments, including a lewd remark about Carol Vorderman. When asked to apologise, he said: 'I am rough around the edges. I have made mistakes in my life. It was a crude attempt at a joke... No offence was meant.'
