Reform UK's candidate in the Makerfield by-election, Robert Kenyon, is under renewed scrutiny after further controversial social media posts emerged. The Wigan councillor and plumber has been accused of sharing misogynistic, homophobic, and transphobic comments, as well as Covid misinformation, in historical posts predating his political career.
In one deleted post on X, the account @robkenyon1 shared a sexually explicit message directed at presenter Carol Vorderman on her birthday, with the comment: "He's only saying what we're all thinking." Vorderman condemned Kenyon as a "misogynist" and demanded an apology. Another post from January 2022 referenced Boris Johnson and his wife, making crude remarks about their relationship.
Further posts allegedly linked to Kenyon include comments on a rugby league forum suggesting women have abortions for "vanity purposes," as well as posts casting doubt on climate change, calling it a "middle class problem." In April 2020, he appeared to call for the hanging of billionaires Richard Branson, Philip Green, and Joe Lewis over taxpayer bailouts.
The campaign group Hope Not Hate discovered two X accounts linked to Kenyon, one suspended and the other deleted. Labour party chair Anna Turley criticised the comments as "horrendous misogyny and sexism," contrasting Kenyon with Labour candidate Andy Burnham, who she described as a "local lad" with a strong track record.
Reform UK defended Kenyon, stating: "Cllr Kenyon made these comments before entering politics. We are confident that he is an excellent candidate... Rob isn’t a polished, professional politician and doesn’t speak like one. That’s precisely why he’ll be a straight-talking, effective voice for normal working people in Makerfield."
