Robert Kenyon Revealed

PoliticsReform UK Oonagh Keating. Updated May 27th, 2026 Robert Kenyon, the ‘ordinary bloke’ selected by Reform UK as their candidate in the all-important Makerfield by-election, has been shielded by the party from interacting with the public or with any kind of impartial media. Reform UK’s candidate won’t face questions by journalists, he only does Reform UK videos. He’s deleted his social and is hiding his career record. There’s nothing real or genuine about Rob Kenyon. He’s a Reform UK prop.#Makerfieldpic.twitter.com/VhBY9DuatQ — Reform Party UK Exposed 🇬🇧 (@reformexposed)May 25, 2026 "Just pounding the streets of Makerfield with a load of volunteers…" These volunteers, are they in the room with you now Rob?pic.twitter.com/YumUDT7JDY — Socialist Opera Singer (@OperaSocialist)May 26, 2026 Publicity surrounding the Wigan plumber stems from his online history of posting truly offensive comments, including numerous slurs. The party undoubtedly wants to try and avoid him having to respond to that. CW. Sexist, transphobic and homophobic language throughout, due to Kenyon’s posts. Oh dear – more comments by our lovely Makerfield candidate Robert Kenyon have come to light.He admits “I’m sexist, sorry but I am”, which I'm sure nobody would have guessed.Other gems include saying women can’t drive and have abortions for “vanity purposes”, using them as a…pic.twitter.com/5oO1umRKQB — Parody Nigel Farage (@Parody_PM)May 26, 2026 Left: Reform UK's video promoting Robert Kenyon as a candidate for MP for Makerfield Right: Some of the coverage of Robert Kenyon's controversial social media postspic.twitter.com/1RTEI9lYoW — Farrukh (@implausibleblog)May 26, 2026 One of Kenyon’s comments – about Carol Vorderman – resulted inEmma Barnett quizzing Reform’s Danny Kruger, who tried to deflect from its seriousness but failed miserably, because it was so vile. Rob Kenyon’s second account featured posts objectifying women, peddling conspiracy theories and calling for violence. In one post, Kenyon suggested that he’d "love to smell & lick" Carole Vorderman's "arsehole."pic.twitter.com/8vcEMgiXbP — HOPE not hate (@hopenothate)May 21, 2026 He was kicked off Sky Sports’ rugby pages for berating the skills of women in rugby and objectifying them, as well as being homophobic and transphobic. Kenyon was blocked from Sky Sports Rugby League's page for comments about women's rugby, called Labour "the party for trannys," and replied "What does his dick taste like" to a post about a male rugby player.pic.twitter.com/ouPPa1CDeI — HOPE not hate (@hopenothate)May 21, 2026 Reform’s Robert Kenyon is a total disaster: called gay men ‘poofs’ who ‘mince about’ on TV, slammed Pride Day at rugby club for corrupting ‘impressionable kids’, raged that women get abortions for vanity after casual shags, and posted lewd sexual comments about Carol Vorderman.…pic.twitter.com/bUfB4ohzuo — King (@King0243_PJC)May 26, 2026 Oh look – homophobic too – now who saw that coming EXCLUSIVE: Under-fire Reform by-election candidate accused of homophobia over 'toxic' postshttps://t.co/kewiGdG64s — dave lawrence 🐟🐟🐠 (@dave43law)May 26, 2026 What a prize. It’s little wonder, then, that Reform – desperate to change the conversation – decided to paint him as some sort of military hero. Cllr Rob Kenyon served his country. Now he’s fighting for its future. 🇬🇧pic.twitter.com/yHFIO9xdHh — Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage)May 26, 2026 Where Farage goes, 30p Lee follows. He's served our country as a soldier and now he wants to serve our country as an MP. A true patriot 🇬🇧https://t.co/XBCbB9eWkv — Lee Anderson MP (@LeeAndersonMP_)May 26, 2026 Tice brought his best pantomime villain game. A real patriot Unlike the woke whining leftieshttps://t.co/1swA9tBwXv — Richard Tice MP 🇬🇧 (@TiceRichard)May 26, 2026 The internet brought perspective. Reform Party candidate for the Makerfield by-election Robert Kenyon only completed the standard two-year part-time Army Reservist commitment around 2019. From what I’m reading, he didn’t actually serve, and it was mostly training. — Mukhtar (@I_amMukhtar)May 26, 2026 The public record shows Cllr Kenyon served as an Army Reservist with the Royal Engineers, reaching Lance Corporal. No deployments or operational service appear in any public record — dave lawrence 🐟🐟🐠 (@dave43law)May 26, 2026 These responses captured the vibe. Rob Kenyon was a Lance Corporal in the Army Reserves. Stop trying to constantly over state his career. He’s a plumber, set up a company in April this year and seems the website has already folded. Bought the van recently too. What you’re not saying though is that he’s a sexist…pic.twitter.com/6IHtse4MKb — Reform Party UK Exposed 🇬🇧 (@reformexposed)May 26, 2026 To be clear, he played at soldiers during weekends in the TA, while still working full time as a misogynistic pervert. — Parody Nigel Farage (@Parody_PM)May 26, 2026 Oh, please!His great grandfather might have served four years… but Kenyon did four hours every other Saturday afternoon!Quit with the jingoistic shit… only the easily led are buying it.I was in the cubs, if that counts. 🤷‍♂️https://t.co/wqFV3G14WW — Reece Dinsdale (@reece_dinsdale)May 26, 2026 He was in the TA and no, he isn’t. Other than that, top tweet from your hiding place.https://t.co/VeV88cEvfD — Don McGowan (@donmcgowan)May 26, 2026 Let's be clear.Reform's claim that Robert Kenyon's a war veteran is untrue.He wasn't regular army, he was a reservist, an engineer, never served overseas, didn't see combat and wasn't even a reservist for very long.It's like Penny Mordaunt's fake navy career all over againpic.twitter.com/gOZYGEF0UI — Frank Place (@BotFinderUK)May 26, 2026 He should be investigated and barred from standing by a Party that failed to do appropriate vettingYou pretend he is some hero working class plumber who was an Army reservistThe public see a sexist misogynist who hides his past and is hidden from the media.The mere fact you… — dave lawrence 🐟🐟🐠 (@dave43law)May 26, 2026 He fought for the country’s future by voting remain. Thank you, patriot 🫡https://t.co/15zIo4g583 — Alix D 🌹🇬🇧 (@GBrownTruther)May 26, 2026 He was a reservist who never deployed, you thick twat. Not everyone’s as thick as you 👇pic.twitter.com/qGdjtyhohw — Mr Green (@TinkersYork)May 26, 2026 Lol he's literally Gareth from The Office and we all know it. A weekend on Woodbury Common in the TA is not serving your country, even if you get dressed up in the uniform!pic.twitter.com/yRLsMR7lB6 — Sam (@SamCKx)May 26, 2026 ©2026 The Poke. All rights reserved.Operated by Digitalbox Publishing Ltd.Digitalbox Publishing Ltd. Co Reg No. 09909897T&C's|Cookie Policy|Privacy Policy|Consent Settings|Copyright Notice|Editorial Policies & Contact Information|Meet the Team

Hello. It looks like you’re using an ad blocker that may prevent our website from working properly. To receive the best experience possible, please make sure any ad blockers are switched off,or add https://experience.tinypass.com to your trusted sites, and refresh the page. If you have any questions or need help you canemail us. To his sexism, graphic language and admittance he voted Remain can now be added homophobia and Covid scepticism Rats in a Sack The social media history of Robert Kenyon, the definitely fully vetted Reform candidate for the Makerfield by-election, continues to be the gift that keeps giving for the party’s opponents. Or for the party itself, if you believe, as it seems to, that a history of sexist, violent and homophobic posts is some kind of virtue. Plumber and Wigan councillor Kenyon has been caught out variously admitting “I’m a sexist” and claiming women can’t drive, saying they get abortions “for vanity purposes”, complaining about local ladies’ “fat bellies” and endorsing graphic sexual remarks about formerCountdownnumbers whizz Carol Vorderman. Possibly even worse in the eyes of Nigel Farage’s mob were unearthed posts in which he claimed to have voted Remain in the 2016 referendum and praised European freedom of movement rules. In a social media post dating from March 28, 2019, an account attributed to Kenyon rejected suggestions that he was a stereotypical right winger. He wrote: “So anyone who thinks I love Trump, voted Brexit, read theDaily Mail, live in the 1950s, a Tory and 103 is wrong. I’m none of the above.” Rats in a Sack Now further posts have emerged which have once again passed Reform’s crack vetting team. TheDaily Mirrorhas reported that he moaned on social media about “poofs” and gay men “mincing about” on TV. According to the paper, in 2009 an account linked to Kenyon complained of Her Majesty Elizabeth II that “You can’t call her ‘The Queen’ anymore because it offends the poofs.” The following year a post on the account said: “People who want to make a stand for homosexuals need not combat the throwaway comments of a sportsman on twitter but need to do something about the way homosexuals are perceived in the mainstream media, for instance having Julian Clarey [sic], Graham Norton, 4 poofs and a piano and Paul O’Grady mincing about on TV does a lot more damage to the reputation of homosexuals and causes greater insult in my opinion.” TheGuardian, meanwhile, has discovered posts in which the candidate expressed doubt over the seriousness of Covid and the efficacy of vaccines for the virus. Archived webpages show a series of posts connected to Covid, including one in July 2022 in response to a post about a new variant. “It’s not making people sicker, I’ve no booster and had covid last week asymptomatic,” he wrote. And in February 2023, Kenyon quote-tweeted a Sky News post about Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer for England, urging people to get Covid booster vaccines, saying Whitty “can fuck right off”. Rats in a Sack The posts should be particularly embarrassing for Reform since, in January, it unveiled former vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi as a defector to the party to much fanfare. When asked at his press conference about the vaccine-sceptic views of a lot of Reform candidates, Zahawi said: “That was a really stupid question, and it doesn’t even deserve an answer.” Still, Reform are not only unperturbed but appear to increasingly believe Kenyon’s suspect social media history is a boon to his chances of beating Andy Burnham. They show that Kenyon would be a “superb” MP, Farage has claimed, as they highlight that he “isn’t a polished, professional politician and doesn’t speak like one”. Meanwhile, as ever with this kind of high-profile by-election, the final list of candidates shows a number of no-hopers frittering their deposits away for a chance to be stood on the stage as the results are announced. This time around they include, inevitably, Count Binface of the Count Binface Party, Dan Clarke of the Libertarian Party, Howling Laud Hope of the Official Monster Raving Loony Party, a number of independents and Michael Winstanley of the Conservatives. Hello. It looks like you’re using an ad blocker that may prevent our website from working properly. To receive the best experience possible, please make sure any ad blockers are switched off,or addhttps://experience.tinypass.comto your trusted sites, and refresh the page. If you have any questions or need help you canemail us. 27 May 2026 3:26 PM © 2026 The New World

Robert Kenyon has faced accusations of misogyny and homophobia as a result of his past social media posts. Political Correspondent Reform UK’scandidate for theMakerfieldby-election’s unearthed social media posts have stunned the general public over the last week. The right-wing party announced last Tuesday thatRobert Kenyon,a supposed “plucky plumber” and Wigan councillor, was going to be taking on Labour’sAndy Burnhamin the race to win next month’s crunch contest. Reform and Labour are locked in a two-horse race for the seat with Kenyon hoping to win over the support of the pro-Brexit constituency. However, Burnham’s reputation as Greater Manchester mayor has given him an early lead according to polling – and he is hoping to oust Keir Starmer as prime minister if he wins the by-election. With all eyes on the contest, Kenyon’s historic online presence has been dredged up – revealing some deeply problematic views. Even so, Reform has stood by its candidate, even trying to market his outspoken comments as a positive. Here’s what has been uncovered so far: An account uncovered byThe Independentand linked to Kenyonwrotewomen can’t “ref, drive or give directions” on an online rugby fan forum in the 2010s. He said women presenting rugby games on TV “aren’t up to the job and only there to tick a box”, adding: “I’m sexist, sorry but I am.” He also objectified European women’s bodies, saying English women “don’t care” and “just walk around with their fat bellies and odd shapes pushing a pram at 16 in their PJ’s”. What did Reform say? A spokesperson said: “These comments, which are little more than locker room banter, were made more than a decade ago – well before Rob was in politics.” Reform’s spokesperson said: “We simply don’t care about establishment hit jobs. We fully back Rob and are confident he will be an excellent MP for Makerfield.” The i paperunearthed 2019 comments sent on a rugby league forum which claimed women who have abortions get them for “vanity purposes” and so they can “shag anyone they want”. Hope Not Hate campaignersalso found that Kenyon also called abortion a “cowardly act of murdering a defenceless baby”in a series of now-deleted tweets from one account. He also suggested women falsely claim to have been raped to terminate a pregnancy. What did Reform say? A spokespersonsaid: “Cllr Kenyon is perfectly entitled to his own personal opinions on abortion. In this country, this issue has always been a matter of conscience, regardless of which party a politician represents.” The MirrorreportsKenyon described gay people as “poofs” on a 2009 forum, and in 2010, described them as “mincing about” on TV. In one post, he wrote: “You can’t call her ‘The Queen’ anymore because it offends the poofs.” The next year, he wrote: “People who want to make a stand for homosexuals need not combat the throwaway comments of a sportsman on twitter but need to do something about the way homosexuals are perceived in the mainstream media, for instance having Julian Clarey [sic], Graham Norton, 4 poofs and a piano and Paul O’Grady mincing about on TV does a lot more damage to the reputation of homosexuals and causes greater insult in my opinion.” In 2020, he wrote: “If LGBT just want acceptance then stop making a big song and dance about it, attention seeking and taking over other events because that’s turning people against you”. He also called Labour the “party for trannys”, according to theObserver. What did Reform say? A spokesperson said: “Many of these comments were made nearly 20 years ago – well before Rob was in politics. We simply don’t care about establishment hit jobs. We fully back Rob and are confident he will be an excellent MP for Makerfield.” Kenyon cast doubt on the Covid vaccine on X while using an account which has since been deleted. Archived webpages uncovered by theGuardianrevealed Kenyon said: “It’s not making people sicker, I’ve no booster and had covid last week asymptomatic.” When pressed on why his opinion was based on his own anecdotal experience, he said: “At the same time I had it, four other people on the course I was on caught it all the same as me, no symptoms.” He claimed his 70-something mother-in-law with chronic ung disease also experienced it as a “cold”. Kenyon advised someone else who was ill with Covid: “Wait longer, take vitamins, stop having boosters.” He also replied to a Sky News post about England’s chief medical officer Chris Whitty urging Brits to get booster jabs, saying Whitty can “fuck right off”. He also claimed worries about a new variant in January 2022 were designed to “scare parents into getting their kids jabbed”. He wrote: “I smell a rat.” What did Reform say? “Robert had all his Covid jabs during the pandemic and his children are fully up to date on every vaccination,” a party representative said. “These comments were made long before Rob was in politics. He 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.” The Timesreported that Kenyon may not have voted for Brexit, even though that is a core policy of Reform UK. In a social media post dating from March 28, 2019, he claimed he was not the typical right-winger. “So anyone who thinks I love Trump, voted Brexit, read the Daily Mail, live in the 1950s, a Tory and 103 is wrong. I’m none of the above,” he said. In another post, including a discussion called ‘Brexit Anyone?’, he wrote: “I woke up the day after Brexit shitting myself to what was voted for”, though he later said the EU’s treatment of Britain made him “glad we voted out”. Kenyon also appeared to praise the principle of European free movement – one of Reform’s greatest qualms with the bloc – writing: ” “Free movement of people is great when they are natives of the EU countries and not people from outside Europe seeking a Greek passport that will allow them into any country in the EU.” What did Reform say? A representative said Kenyon “voted Leave in 2016 and is a proud Brexiteer, unlike Andy Burnham who will drag the UK back into the EU by any means possible”. Hope Not Hate alsorevealed that in 2021 Kenyon interacted with a social media message sent to the Countdown host, which read: “Happy birthday Carol, my God I would love to smell and lick your arsehole.” Kenyon replied, “he’s only saying what we’re all thinking,” along with a thumbs up and a laughing emoji. Vorderman has called Kenyon a misogynist, andtold the Daily Mirrorthat she wanted “apology from Rob Kenyon, to me, and to all the other people he’s abused online.” What did Reform say? Danny Krugerdefended Kenyon’s comments on Vorderman on Monday, telling BBC Radio 4′sTodayprogramme: “The great challenge for social media for private people is that they use it as if they are chatting to their friends in the pub. “It was a clearly inappropriate thing to say. I’m not going to judge people for what was intended as private conversations. Clearly that is not the kind of comment you would want an elected politician to say.” Campaign organisationSearchlightsaid Kenyon was friends with fascist campaigner Gary Raikes on a now deleted Facebook page. What did Reform say? Reform has not disputed this claim. Party leader Nigel Farage said: “When he [Kenyon] campaigned here at the general election, hundreds of people joined as friends, and one of them turned out to be unsavoury. “I am utterly confident that in Rob, we’ve got somebody who’s done his bit for his country, done his bit for himself, does his bit for the community.” Kenyon claimed Russia was “within its rights” to invade the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea back in 2014, according toThe Telegraph. In an online forum, he agreed with a post which called the annexation “democracy in action”, writing: “Russia are well within their rights to do what they have done as we did with the Falklands.” What did Reform say? “At no point did Rob explicitly support or endorse Russia’s actions in Crimea,” a spokesperson said. “He is fully opposed to Russia’s illegal and brutal invasion of Ukraine. We fully back Cllr Kenyon. He is an excellent local candidate, who we are confident will be a superb MP for Makerfield.” In posts from 2020unearthed by The Times,Kenyon wrote: “Had [Hillary Clinton] stayed out of Libya, the MEN arena bombing wouldn’t have happened.” The 2017 attack killed 22 concertgoers at an Ariana Grande concert. It was carried out by a 22-year-old Manchester-born son of Libyan immigrants, Salman Abedi, who died during the incident. What did Reform say? A party spokesperson said: “It is perfectly legitimate to point out that the instability in the Middle East has contributed to terrorist attacks in the West. “The public are increasingly seeing through this hysterical media witch-hunt against a decent local working-class man. We stand firmly behind Cllr Rob Kenyon and are confident he will be an outstanding MP for Makerfield.” Subscribe to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.

Robert Kenyon - Reform UK's candidate for the Ashton in Makerfield by election(Image: Manchester Evening News) Andy Burnham's Reform UK rival has been branded a "disgusting online abuser" by TV star Carol Vorderman. Robert Kenyon, who is battling withLabour's Mr Burnhamto become thenext MP for Makerfield, has been blasted over a series of degrading comments about Carol and female rugby players. Campaign group HOPE not hate discovered Mr Kenyon, a plumber by trade, had two X accounts, one of which had been suspended by the platform and the other deleted. A post from one of the accounts referenced being blocked by the Sky SportsRugby Leagueaccount on X for comments about women's rugby. Carol toldthe Mirror: "Fundamentally, Rob Kenyon is a misogynist. I wouldn't let him in my house if he was a local plumber in my area, not with what he's been posting online. There is always a pattern. "He's been talking about how female rugby players 'handle their knockers', saying if it's not 't***, and a****', and he'd been blocked by theSky SportsRugby LeagueTwitterpage for his online behaviour. "It's a torrent of abusive and vile language. Nobody knows why his X account was suspended. X has a very low bar for suspension, and the public should know and Reform should tell us why his account was suspended. What were his actions for this to have happened? "Last year the Victim's Commissioner said 'misogyny normalises violence against women and girls, normalises illegal harms such as harassment, abuse and stalking. And these harms manifest in both online and offline spaces'. "He's not just being a lad, he's being a disgusting online abuser who became a Reform councillor three weeks ago." Carol Vorderman(Image: Mark Cuthbert, UK Press via Getty Images) And she said it claimed there was a wider problem in Mr Farage's party, stating: "It's yet another pattern of Reform. Let's not forget that Nigel Farage has been photographed with Andrew Tate, he described Tate as an 'important voice' for young men. "If anyone's seriously thinking that Reform stands for the safety of women, then please think again. They stand for reducing women’s rights and safety. "They've already stated they would abolish the Equality Act, which would scrap protections against workplace discrimination, equal pay rights, maternity leave. Reform did not disclose the conviction of one of their 2024 MPs, James McMurdock. After the election McMurdock turned out to have a conviction assaulting his then-girlfriend in 2006." Andy Burnham launches his by-election campaign(Image: Andy Stenning/Daily Mirror) Reform UK said despite the comments it fully backed the "unpolished" Mr Kenyon. A spokesperson said: "He is an excellent, local candidate who we are confident will be a superb MP for Makerfield. These comments were made before he was in politics. "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." ALabour Partyspokesman said: "Robert Kenyon's comments online are disgusting and show that he's not fit to represent Makerfield. "From creepy remarks about women, to peddling baseless conspiracy theories, this is appalling stuff from a parliamentary candidate - on top of beingFacebookfriends with a fascist campaigner. Nigel Farage needs to explain why Reform UK selected him in the first place.” Choose Liverpool Echo as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value. AtReach and across our entitieswe and our partners use information collected through cookies and other identifiers from your device to improve experience on our site, analyse how it is used and to show personalised advertising. You can opt out of the sale or sharing of your data, at any time clicking the "Do Not Sell or Share my Data" button at the bottom of the webpage. Please note that your preferences are browser specific. Use of our website and any of our services represents your acceptance of the use ofcookiesand consent to the practices described in ourPrivacy NoticeandTerms and Conditions.

Robert Kenyon (right) pictured with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage(Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News) Another series of lewd andcontroversial online postslinked to Reform UK’s candidate in theMakerfield by-electionhave emerged. Plumber and newly-electedWigancouncillorRobert Kenyonhas come under fire for 'vile' comments made in historical posts shared before he entered politics. In one deleted post on X, the @robkenyon1 account shared a sexually explicit post sent to Carol Vorderman on her birthday, in which another user declared he wanted to perform a sexual act on the presenter, adding: "He's only saying what we're all thinking." Coun Kenyon is also alleged to be linked to comments made on a rugby league forum which included claims women have abortions for 'vanity purposes'. In a statement Reform said it 'fully-backed' Coun Kenyon - who is running against Andy Burnham in the crucial vote - adding he 'isn't a polished, professional politician and doesn't speak like one'. Click here for our dedicated Makerfield by-election newsletterwith exclusive interviews and analysis Now further historical social media posts apparently made by Coun Kenyon have been highlighted by the campaign groupHope Not Hate,which discovered two X accounts linked to the Reform candidate, one of which had been suspended by the platform and the other deleted. In reply to one poster on X who in January 2022 shared a photograph of then Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie, the @robkenyon1 account said: "Lets be honest he's batting, so why would an attractive female want with someone in a high political position? Must be hung like a donkey." In one deleted post on X, @robkenyon1 said: "Next door neighbour said 'Little blowy today eh?' I said to her 'The Mrs is home in 20mins so ok if you're quick'." Elsewhere the account seemed to cast doubt on climate change, calling it a 'middle class problem' in one 2021 post and in another asking if school children would be taught 'about the ice age and that the world has been getting warmer since then'. And in reply to another post in April 2020 during lockdown which said billionaire businessmen Richard Branson, Philip Green and Joe Lewis had been 'bailed out by taxpayer money to support their workers', @robkenyon1 said: "Hang all 3." The comments are the latest in a string of re-surfaced social media posts connected to Mr Kenyon, which have also seen him accused of sharing covid misinformation and homophobic and transphobic insults. In response to the comments made about her, Carol Vorderman called Coun Kenyon a 'misogynist', and demanded an apology for his 'disgusting comments'. Labourparty chair Anna Turley earlier said: "It's a really important election, particularly when you look at the candidates, the Reform candidate who is reportedly coming out with some horrendous misogyny, sexism, some really vile comments on social media, or you've got someone likeAndy Burnhamwith a terrific track record of delivery, who is a local lad who really cares about the community there, and is going to be a brilliant representative for them." When theManchester Evening Newscontacted Reform UK for a response, a spokesperson for the party said: “Cllr Kenyon made these comments before entering politics. We are confident that he is an excellent candidate who will be a superb local MP for Makerfield. "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.” Choose Manchester Evening News as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value. AtReach and across our entitieswe and our partners use information collected through cookies and other identifiers from your device to improve experience on our site, analyse how it is used and to show personalised advertising. You can opt out of the sale or sharing of your data, at any time clicking the "Do Not Sell or Share my Data" button at the bottom of the webpage. Please note that your preferences are browser specific. Use of our website and any of our services represents your acceptance of the use ofcookiesand consent to the practices described in ourPrivacy NoticeandTerms and Conditions.

Robert Kenyon, Reform’s candidate in the upcoming Makerfield by-election, has been humbled by Chris Mason in a car crash interview. After Reform announced Kenyon as their candidate for the by-election, it transpired that he had postedsome fairly awful sentiments about women online. The plumber, who had deleted all his previous social media accounts before his unveiling, also appeared to have sharedanti-Brexitandpro-Russia posts. With every new post unearthed by the media, it has brought into question even more whether Reform have any semblance of a vetting process when choosing their candidates. Meanwhile, many are saying the posts are proof Kenyon isn’t fit to serve in parliament as an MP. For anyone still in any doubt about this though, take a look at this interview Kenyon did with the BBC’s Chris Mason. Mason started out by asking Kenyon about his thoughts on Russia’s annexation of Crimea, something he had previously said Russia was ‘well within its rights’ to do. Kenyon said he had changed his mind on this one. He was then asked about his thoughts on Brexit, with Kenyon having posted that the Leave campaign ‘peddled nationalistic pish.’ Kenyon swore ‘hand on heart’ that he had voted Leave in the referendum, contradicting something he said in another of his old posts. From there, it only got worse for Kenyon, who claimed he didn’t even know what ‘nationalistic pish’ means. Mason challenged Kenyon over posts voicing anti-vaccine views,comments about Carol Vordermanand degrading posts about women, leaving the Wigan councillor squirming. Robert Kenyon thinks pulling a pint after being interviewed makes him more electable, it doesn’t.On Ukraine- I’ve changed my mind.On Brexit – I don’t understand what I posted.On anti-vax claims – I got my vaccine.On Carol Voderman – I only made a crass joke.#makerfieldpic.twitter.com/FALR5TWBoL Reacting to the interview online, one person said it “might be the worst performance from a political candidate I have ever seen in my life.” This might be the worst performance from a political candidate I have ever seen in my life.pic.twitter.com/Kku1RecFJ0 Labour MP Luke Charters labelled it the “worst political interview in history.” Worst political interview in history.On air next: Reform’s Vetting Process… Britain’s Greatest Unsolved Mystery! 📺pic.twitter.com/hEYSsSZl81 And political commentator Don McGowan said Kenyon’s attempts to mould himself as a ‘man of the people’ like Farage weren’t working. He wrote: “He was clearly preloaded with the questions and told what to say, but still managed to bungle it at every opportunity. “Drinking pints in pubs and telling the BBC that most folk swear just isn’t a high enough benchmark for a role in Parliament representing his constituents.” Robert Kenyon is trying to mould himself in to the Farage 'Man of the People Template™' but it isn't working.That only flies when you have a modicum of intelligence and, most importantly, are gigantically wealthy.He was clearly preloaded with the questions and told what to…https://t.co/vPO2Fe6xzC Email address: View ourPrivacy PolicyandTerms & Conditions TheLondonEconomic.com – Open, accessible and accountable news, sport, culture and lifestyle.Read more We do not charge or put articles behind a paywall. If you can, please show your appreciation for our free content by donating whatever you think is fair to help keep TLE growing and support real, independent, investigative journalism. Editorial enquiries, please contact:[email protected] Commercial enquiries, please contact:[email protected] © The London Economic Newspaper Limited t/a TLEthelondoneconomic.com- All Rights Reserved.Privacy © The London Economic Newspaper Limited t/a TLEthelondoneconomic.com- All Rights Reserved.Privacy © The London Economic Newspaper Limited t/a TLEthelondoneconomic.com- All Rights Reserved.Privacy

Streamline delivers efficient, clear, and reliable news content. Stay informed with our content-focused platform designed for optimal readability and user experience. ©2026Streamline. All rights reserved. We're loading the full news article for you. This includes the article content, images, author information, and related articles. Carol Vorderman brands Reform UK Makerfield candidate Robert Kenyon a "disgusting online abuser" after investigators uncover a trove of deleted offensive posts. Broadcaster and political commentator Carol Vorderman has launched a scathing denunciation of Robert Kenyon, the Reform UK candidate for the Makerfield by-election, branding him a "disgusting online abuser" following the unearthing of deleted digital archives. The revelations have cast a severe shadow over a highly contested political race, raising urgent questions about the vetting processes employed by emerging populist factions in the United Kingdom. The controversy threatens to derail Reform UK's momentum ahead of the June 18 ballot against Labour's formidable Andy Burnham. Digital advocacy groups Byline Times and Hope Not Hate exposed a massive trove of social media posts allegedly authored by Kenyon, featuring explicit misogyny, COVID-19 conspiracy theories, and inflammatory rhetoric regarding immigration. The electorate is now forced to confront the increasingly blurred boundary between robust political populism and outright digital hostility. The investigative efforts of anti-extremism researchers revealed that Kenyon, a plumber who recently secured a council seat in Wigan, operated at least two now-deleted X (formerly Twitter) accounts. His primary handle, @Makerfield_RFK, was abruptly suspended by the platform shortly after he was announced as the official Reform UK candidate. An archive of 419 tweets demonstrated a sustained pattern of aggressive digital behavior that starkly contradicts the polished image required for national parliamentary service. The most egregious of these archived posts featured highly sexualized and derogatory comments directed at female public figures. Vorderman herself was a target of explicit graphic remarks, while other posts included degrading commentary regarding the physical attributes of female rugby players. Vorderman publicly stated that she "wouldn't let him in my house if he was a local plumber," citing his documented history of objectifying women and normalizing verbal violence in digital spaces. Beyond the rampant misogyny, Kenyon's digital footprint reveals a disturbing propensity for weaponizing local tragedies to fuel an anti-immigration narrative. Following a localized stabbing incident in Wigan involving a British resident, Kenyon reportedly framed the event online as evidence of an "illegal immigrant invasion." This deliberate mischaracterization of crime statistics serves as a foundational tactic for radicalizing local populations through fear and disinformation. Furthermore, during his 2024 campaign, Kenyon demonstrated an obsessive focus on immigration, applying an extreme xenophobic filter to virtually all political discourse. When the Labour Party posted a campaign image featuring silhouetted figures on a beach at sunset, Kenyon immediately replied, "Was this photo taken at Calais?" This visual grammar of far-right replacement theory highlights an ideological rigidity that severely compromises his ability to represent a diverse, modern constituency impartially. The exposure of Kenyon's extreme views places intense pressure on the central leadership of Reform UK. Led by Nigel Farage, the party has consistently struggled to distance itself from accusations that it harbors elements of the far-right fringe. Vorderman explicitly linked Kenyon's behavior to a wider systemic issue within the party, noting Farage's previous associations with polarizing figures like Andrew Tate, whom Farage once described as an "important voice" for young men. Reform UK has thus far offered minimal defense, suggesting that the comments were made prior to his formal entry into politics—an argument that holds little weight given that he was elected as a local councillor merely three weeks prior to the scandal breaking. Political analysts warn that a failure to decisively condemn and expel candidates engaging in hate speech severely undermines the party's attempts to present itself as a legitimate, mainstream alternative to the Conservative Party. The Makerfield by-election was triggered to accommodate the parliamentary return of Andy Burnham, the highly popular Mayor of Greater Manchester. Burnham, representing the Labour and Co-operative parties, is widely viewed as a heavy favorite to secure the seat. However, Reform UK had hoped to capitalize on working-class disillusionment in the historically industrial constituency to orchestrate a significant political upset. As the campaign enters its final crucial weeks, the revelations surrounding Robert Kenyon serve as a stark reminder of the permanence of the digital record. The voters of Makerfield must now decide if the populist disruption promised by Reform UK justifies the elevation of a candidate with a documented history of vitriol and abuse. Keep the conversation in one place—threads here stay linked to thestoryand in the forums. Sign in to start a discussion Start a conversation about thisstoryand keep it linked here. 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Reform UK leader Nigel Farage MP with Robert Kenyon Reform UK's candidate for the Ashton in Makerfield by election(Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News) Andy Burnham's Reform UK rival faces further backlash after a series of explicit and controversial historical social media posts linked to the Makerfield by-election candidate emerged. Robert Kenyon, a plumber and recently elected Wigan councillor, has faced criticism over what have been described as "vile" remarks found in earlier posts made before he entered politics. In one deleted post on X, the @robkenyon1 accountreshared a sexually explicit messagedirected at Carol Vorderman on her birthday, in which another user said they wanted to perform a sexual act on the presenter, adding: "He's only saying what we're all thinking." Councillor Kenyon is also reportedly linked to comments posted on a rugby league forum alleging that women undergo abortions for "vanity purposes." In response,Reform UKsaid it "fully backs" Councillor Kenyon - who iscontesting the seat against Andy Burnhamin the upcoming vote - and noted he "isn't a polished, professional politician and doesn't speak like one," reportsthe Manchester Evening News. Now further historical social media posts apparently made by Cllr Kenyon have been highlighted by the campaign group Hope Not Hate, which discovered two X accounts linked to the Reform candidate, one of which had been suspended by the platform and the other deleted. One of Robert Kenyon's posts on X In reply to one poster on X who in January 2022 shared a photograph of then Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie, the @robkenyon1 account said: "Lets be honest he's batting, so why would an attractive female want with someone in a high political position? Must be hung like a donkey." In one deleted post on X, @robkenyon1 said: "Next door neighbour said 'Little blowy today eh?' I said to her 'The Mrs is home in 20mins so ok if you're quick'." Elsewhere the account seemed to cast doubt on climate change, calling it a 'middle class problem' in one 2021 post and in another asking if school children would be taught 'about the ice age and that the world has been getting warmer since then'. And in reply to another post in April 2020 during lockdown which said billionaire businessmen Richard Branson, Philip Green and Joe Lewis had been 'bailed out by taxpayer money to support their workers', @robkenyon1 said: "Hang all 3." The comments arethe latest in a string of re-surfaced social mediaposts connected to Mr Kenyon, which have also seen him accused of sharing covid misinformation and homophobic and transphobic insults. In response to the comments made about her, Carol Vorderman called Cllr Kenyon a 'misogynist', and demanded an apology for his 'disgusting comments'. Labour party chair Anna Turley earlier said: "It's a really important election, particularly when you look at the candidates, the Reform candidate who is reportedly coming out with some horrendous misogyny, sexism, some really vile comments on social media, or you've got someone like Andy Burnham with a terrific track record of delivery, who is a local lad who really cares about the community there, and is going to be a brilliant representative for them." When the Manchester Evening News contacted Reform UK for a response, a spokesperson for the party said: "Cllr Kenyon made these comments before entering politics. We are confident that he is an excellent candidate who will be a superb local MP for Makerfield. "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." Choose Liverpool Echo as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value. AtReach and across our entitieswe and our partners use information collected through cookies and other identifiers from your device to improve experience on our site, analyse how it is used and to show personalised advertising. You can opt out of the sale or sharing of your data, at any time clicking the "Do Not Sell or Share my Data" button at the bottom of the webpage. Please note that your preferences are browser specific. Use of our website and any of our services represents your acceptance of the use ofcookiesand consent to the practices described in ourPrivacy NoticeandTerms and Conditions.

Robert Kenyon has faced accusations of misogyny and homophobia as a result of his past social media posts. Political Correspondent Reform UK’scandidate for theMakerfieldby-election’s unearthed social media posts have stunned the general public over the last week. The right-wing party announced last Tuesday thatRobert Kenyon,a supposed “plucky plumber” and Wigan councillor, was going to be taking on Labour’sAndy Burnhamin the race to win next month’s crunch contest. Reform and Labour are locked in a two-horse race for the seat with Kenyon hoping to win over the support of the pro-Brexit constituency. However, Burnham’s reputation as Greater Manchester mayor has given him an early lead according to polling – and he is hoping to oust Keir Starmer as prime minister if he wins the by-election. With all eyes on the contest, Kenyon’s historic online presence has been dredged up – revealing some deeply problematic views. Even so, Reform has stood by its candidate, even trying to market his outspoken comments as a positive. Here’s what has been uncovered so far: An account uncovered byThe Independentand linked to Kenyonwrotewomen can’t “ref, drive or give directions” on an online rugby fan forum in the 2010s. He said women presenting rugby games on TV “aren’t up to the job and only there to tick a box”, adding: “I’m sexist, sorry but I am.” He also objectified European women’s bodies, saying English women “don’t care” and “just walk around with their fat bellies and odd shapes pushing a pram at 16 in their PJ’s”. What did Reform say? A spokesperson said: “These comments, which are little more than locker room banter, were made more than a decade ago – well before Rob was in politics.” Reform’s spokesperson said: “We simply don’t care about establishment hit jobs. We fully back Rob and are confident he will be an excellent MP for Makerfield.” The i paperunearthed 2019 comments sent on a rugby league forum which claimed women who have abortions get them for “vanity purposes” and so they can “shag anyone they want”. Hope Not Hate campaignersalso found that Kenyon also called abortion a “cowardly act of murdering a defenceless baby”in a series of now-deleted tweets from one account. He also suggested women falsely claim to have been raped to terminate a pregnancy. What did Reform say? A spokespersonsaid: “Cllr Kenyon is perfectly entitled to his own personal opinions on abortion. In this country, this issue has always been a matter of conscience, regardless of which party a politician represents.” The MirrorreportsKenyon described gay people as “poofs” on a 2009 forum, and in 2010, described them as “mincing about” on TV. In one post, he wrote: “You can’t call her ‘The Queen’ anymore because it offends the poofs.” The next year, he wrote:  “People who want to make a stand for homosexuals need not combat the throwaway comments of a sportsman on twitter but need to do something about the way homosexuals are perceived in the mainstream media, for instance having Julian Clarey [sic], Graham Norton, 4 poofs and a piano and Paul O’Grady mincing about on TV does a lot more damage to the reputation of homosexuals and causes greater insult in my opinion.” In 2020, he wrote: “If LGBT just want acceptance then stop making a big song and dance about it, attention seeking and taking over other events because that’s turning people against you”. He also called Labour the “party for trannys”, according to theObserver. What did Reform say? A spokesperson said: “Many of these comments were made nearly 20 years ago – well before Rob was in politics. We simply don’t care about establishment hit jobs. We fully back Rob and are confident he will be an excellent MP for Makerfield.” Kenyon cast doubt on the Covid vaccine on X while using an account which has since been deleted. Archived webpages uncovered by theGuardianrevealed Kenyon said: “It’s not making people sicker, I’ve no booster and had covid last week asymptomatic.” When pressed on why his opinion was based on his own anecdotal experience, he said: “At the same time I had it, four other people on the course I was on caught it all the same as me, no symptoms.” He claimed his 70-something mother-in-law with chronic ung disease also experienced it as a “cold”. Kenyon advised someone else who was ill with Covid: “Wait longer, take vitamins, stop having boosters.” He also replied to a Sky News post about England’s chief medical officer Chris Whitty urging Brits to get booster jabs, saying Whitty can “fuck right off”. He also claimed worries about a new variant in January 2022 were designed to “scare parents into getting their kids jabbed”. He wrote: “I smell a rat.” What did Reform say? “Robert had all his Covid jabs during the pandemic and his children are fully up to date on every vaccination,” a party representative said. “These comments were made long before Rob was in politics. He 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.” The Timesreported that Kenyon may not have voted for Brexit, even though that is a core policy of Reform UK. In a social media post dating from March 28, 2019, he claimed he was not the typical right-winger. “So anyone who thinks I love Trump, voted Brexit, read the Daily Mail, live in the 1950s, a Tory and 103 is wrong. I’m none of the above,” he said. In another post, including a discussion called ‘Brexit Anyone?’, he wrote: “I woke up the day after Brexit shitting myself to what was voted for”, though he later said the EU’s treatment of Britain made him “glad we voted out”. Kenyon also appeared to praise the principle of European free movement – one of Reform’s greatest qualms with the bloc – writing: ” “Free movement of people is great when they are natives of the EU countries and not people from outside Europe seeking a Greek passport that will allow them into any country in the EU.” What did Reform say? A representative said Kenyon “voted Leave in 2016 and is a proud Brexiteer, unlike Andy Burnham who will drag the UK back into the EU by any means possible”. Hope Not Hate alsorevealed that in 2021 Kenyon interacted with a social media message sent to the Countdown host, which read: “Happy birthday Carol, my God I would love to smell and lick your arsehole.” Kenyon replied, “he’s only saying what we’re all thinking,” along with a thumbs up and a laughing emoji. Vorderman has called Kenyon a misogynist, andtold the Daily Mirrorthat she wanted “apology from Rob Kenyon, to me, and to all the other people he’s abused online.” What did Reform say? Danny Krugerdefended Kenyon’s comments on Vorderman on Monday, telling BBC Radio 4′sTodayprogramme: “The great challenge for social media for private people is that they use it as if they are chatting to their friends in the pub. “It was a clearly inappropriate thing to say. I’m not going to judge people for what was intended as private conversations. Clearly that is not the kind of comment you would want an elected politician to say.” Campaign organisationSearchlightsaid Kenyon was friends with fascist campaigner Gary Raikes on a now deleted Facebook page. What did Reform say? Reform has not disputed this claim. Party leader Nigel Farage said: “When he [Kenyon] campaigned here at the general election, hundreds of people joined as friends, and one of them turned out to be unsavoury. “I am utterly confident that in Rob, we’ve got somebody who’s done his bit for his country, done his bit for himself, does his bit for the community.” Kenyon claimed Russia was “within its rights” to invade the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea back in 2014, according toThe Telegraph. In an online forum, he agreed with a post which called the annexation “democracy in action”, writing: “Russia are well within their rights to do what they have done as we did with the Falklands.” What did Reform say? “At no point did Rob explicitly support or endorse Russia’s actions in Crimea,” a spokesperson said. “He is fully opposed to Russia’s illegal and brutal invasion of Ukraine. We fully back Cllr Kenyon. He is an excellent local candidate, who we are confident will be a superb MP for Makerfield.” Subscribe to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.

Outcome of contest for seat just outside Wigan could change the course of British politics for years to come Andy Burnham will face Reform UK’s Robert Kenyon in next month’s crucialMakerfield byelectionin a clash that could change the course of British politics for years to come. Reform are billing Kenyon, a plumber and army reservist who contested the seat just outside Wigan in the 2024 general election, as a local champion taking on a professional politician who is using the seat for his own advantage. Kenyon, however, faced immediate scrutiny of his social media activity. Deleted posts on X show he appeared to cast doubt on the efficacy of a vaccine, interacted with a Dutch far-right influencer and praised Donald Trump. The Conservatives also asked why Kenyon’s account had been suspended. Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor,was selected by Labour’s national executive committee. No other candidates were on the shortlist despite others having applied. The byelection is expected to take place on 18 June. Burnham has been open about wanting to return to Westminster to change Labour’s direction at the national level, and a leadership bid against Keir Starmer is widely assumed if he wins. He said in a statement that he was humbled to have been selected and promised to put the spotlight on what he said were neglected parts of the UK such as Makerfield. Announcing Kenyon as Reform’s candidate, the party leader, Nigel Farage, characterised the byelection as a “David versus Goliath battle”. In a video posted by Reform, Kenyon took aim at Burnham, saying he was using Makerfield as a stepping stone. This is likely to be an attack line in the weeks ahead despite Burnham’s family home being nearby. “Labour and probably the other parties have got career politicians. They go to private school, to university, they get a job at a thinktank or they are an assistant to an MP and then before you know it they are parachuted into somewhere they have never even visited to stand as an MP,” he said. Kenyon, who was born in Makerfield and previously worked as a specialist NHS technician in Lancashire, came second in the 2024 election, 5,399 votes behind Labour’s Josh Simons, who announced last week he would give up his role so Burnham could launch his attempt to return to Westminster. Archived copies of Kenyon’s X posts include one in which he replies to an NHS account questioning its claim that a vaccine has 90% effectiveness, asking: “How many people were tested and what is the protection rate for people who hadn’t had the vaccine?” In the aftermath of the murder of three young children in Southport, Kenyon replied to a post by Eva Vlaardingerbroek, a prominent Dutch influencer who was among11 far-right activists bannedfrom the UK before a rally last weekend. Kenyon asked her: “Any description of the attacker?” He also expressed support for the US president in a number of posts, telling another X user: “Trump is very popular, just not in your liberal circle.” Labour and Reform are favourites for the byelection, but they face challenges from the left and right. Restore Britain, theopenly far-right party set up by the former Reform MP Rupert Lowe, has selected the local businesswoman Rebecca Shepherd as its candidate and deployed targeted Facebook adverts in Makerfield on Tuesday. The Greens are expected to pick a candidate on Wednesday. Starmer chaired a cabinet meeting on Tuesday morning, the first since Wes Streeting, another expected leadership rival, resigned as health secretary. The prime minister later used a Downing Street event to hail the impact of the Renters’ Rights Act, which gives new protections to tenants. “We had to fight for this,” he said. “This is not a dry piece of legislation that just sits on the statute books … it makes a real impact for renters up and down the country.” Starmer has refused to consider the idea of setting out a timetable to quit, saying he hoped to lead the party into the next election. Mark Drakeford, who was the Labour first minister of Wales from 2018 to 2024, said on Tuesday that he wanted Burnham to replace Starmer. “I think Keir Starmer should set out a timetable for a change in leadership of the United Kingdom Labour party and the United Kingdom itself,” he told Channel 4 News. “He is a decent man who works extremely hard every day to do his very best, but a combination of circumstances and capacity mean that it hasn’t worked out, and it’s time to recognise that and make a plan to move ahead.”

Andy Burnham will face Reform UK’s Robert Kenyon in next month’s crucial Makerfield byelection in a clash that could change the course of British politics for years to come. Reform are billing Kenyon, a plumber and army reservist who contested the seat just outside Wigan in the 2024 general election, as a local champion taking on a professional politician who is using the seat for his own advantage. Kenyon, however, faced immediate scrutiny of his social media activity. Deleted posts on X show he appeared to cast doubt on the efficacy of a vaccine, interacted with a Dutch far-right influencer and praised Donald Trump. The Conservatives also asked why Kenyon’s account had been suspended. Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor,was selected by Labour’s national executive committee. No other candidates were on the shortlist despite others having applied. The byelection is expected to take place on 18 June. Burnham has been open about wanting to return to Westminster to change Labour’s direction at the national level, and a leadership bid against Keir Starmer is widely assumed if he wins. He said in a statement that he was humbled to have been selected and promised to put the spotlight on what he said were neglected parts of the UK such as Makerfield. Announcing Kenyon as Reform’s candidate, the party leader, Nigel Farage, characterised the byelection as a “David versus Goliath battle”. In a video posted by Reform, Kenyon took aim at Burnham, saying he was using Makerfield as a stepping stone. This is likely to be an attack line in the weeks ahead despite Burnham’s family home being nearby. “Labour and probably the other parties have got career politicians. They go to private school, to university, they get a job at a thinktank or they are an assistant to an MP and then before you know it they are parachuted into somewhere they have never even visited to stand as an MP,” he said. Kenyon, who was born in Makerfield and previously worked as a specialist NHS technician in Lancashire, came second in the 2024 election, 5,399 votes behind Labour’s Josh Simons, who announced last week he would give up his role so Burnham could launch his attempt to return to Westminster. Archived copies of Kenyon’s X posts include one in which he replies to an NHS account questioning its claim that a vaccine has 90% effectiveness, asking: “How many people were tested and what is the protection rate for people who hadn’t had the vaccine?” In the aftermath of the murder of three young children in Southport, Kenyon replied to a post by Eva Vlaardingerbroek, a prominent Dutch influencer who was among11 far-right activists bannedfrom the UK before a rally last weekend. Kenyon asked her: “Any description of the attacker?” He also expressed support for the US president in a number of posts, telling another X user: “Trump is very popular, just not in your liberal circle.” Labour and Reform are favourites for the byelection, but they face challenges from the left and right. Restore Britain, theopenly far-right party set up by the former Reform MP Rupert Lowe, has selected the local businesswoman Rebecca Shepherd as its candidate and deployed targeted Facebook adverts in Makerfield on Tuesday. The Greens are expected to pick a candidate on Wednesday. Starmer chaired a cabinet meeting on Tuesday morning, the first since Wes Streeting, another expected leadership rival, resigned as health secretary. The prime minister later used a Downing Street event to hail the impact of the Renters’ Rights Act, which gives new protections to tenants. “We had to fight for this,” he said. “This is not a dry piece of legislation that just sits on the statute books … it makes a real impact for renters up and down the country.” Starmer has refused to consider the idea of setting out a timetable to quit, saying he hoped to lead the party into the next election. Mark Drakeford, who was the Labour first minister of Wales from 2018 to 2024, said on Tuesday that he wanted Burnham to replace Starmer. “I think Keir Starmer should set out a timetable for a change in leadership of the United Kingdom Labour party and the United Kingdom itself,” he told Channel 4 News. “He is a decent man who works extremely hard every day to do his very best, but a combination of circumstances and capacity mean that it hasn’t worked out, and it’s time to recognise that and make a plan to move ahead.” This article is being processed for speech. This might take a few seconds. You can listen to other articles in the mean time. Your playlist has ended. Why not listen tothe morning edition?

IMPARTIAL NEWS + INTELLIGENT DEBATE Account Robert Kenyon, who is standing in the Makerfield by-election, once claimed women get abortions for 'vanity purposes' Reform UK’scandidate to take onAndy Burnhamin acrunch by-electiononce said women get abortions for “vanity purposes” and use them as a “secondary form of contraception”. A file of past social media posts, seen byThe i Paper, revealsCouncillor Robert Kenyonaired anti-abortion views, including claims that women rely on them so they can “shag anyone they want”. The 41-year-old self-employed plumber is the main challenger the Greater Manchester Mayor faces as heattempts to return to Parliament as an MPin the Makerfield by-election on 18 June. health Young people are suffering arapidly rising number of knee and overuse injuriesas the UK experiences a boom in running, according to physiotherapists.Clinics report a sharp increase in people inspired by social media “runfluencers” who areinjuring themselves by pushing too hardand underestimating the toll on the body of distance running. The popularity of running among people in their twenties has surged, fuelled by social media and run clubs. One London clinic has seen a more than 100 per cent rise in running-related injuries over the last five years. The most common problems are related to the knee, as well as shin splints, ankle sprains and Achilles problems. There is no doubt that running is going through a boom – a record 1.33 million have applied for next year’s London Marathon. But a social media driven exercise culture is also creating problems for newcomers. Experts warn that runfluencers, who document training and sell coaching plans, can lead to novices doing too much, too quickly. They emphasise instead the importance of starting slowly and anticipating the accumulation of fatigue over weeks of training. weather It is not only humans who will have been feeling the heat in recent days. Theonset heatstroke in dogs can happen in minutes, meaning owners should take particular care when walking their pooch in hot weather.The Kennel Club recommends measures including only taking dogs out atcooler times of the dayand looking out for signs of heat distress, includingheavy pantingand lethargy or confusion. A dog in heat distress can show signs such as heavy panting even when not exercising, unwillingness to move, dribbling and confusion, as well as not walking in a straight line. Contact a vet immediately if heatstroke is suspected and move the dog into shade or a cool floor. Carefully pour water over its body, focusing on neck, stomach and inner thighs. Fan the dog with cool air. NEWS 3 min read CONSUMER The German-owned discounter increased its sales by nearly 9 per cent in the three months to mid-May, making it thefastest-growing store-based food retailer, according to new figures.Lidl now has arecord 8.6 per cent market share. The rapid sales growth, fuelled by households tightening their belts amidrenewed cost of living pressures, means it has leapfrogged Morrisons (8.3 per cent) as the fifth-largest supermarket. Some 25 years ago, Lidl accounted for just 1.4 per cent of a UK grocery market where names such as Safeway, Somerfield and Kwik Save were still active. While those chains are now long gone, Lidl – along with fellow German brand Aldi – has rapidly prospered. Its emphasis on low prices has helped Lidl build market share in Britain’s cut-throat food retail sector. It now has 1,000 stores and 13 distribution centres, employing 35,000 staff across Great Britain. courts A Liverpool FC player has been fined £440 after he was caught by policewatching a video on his smartphonewhile driving on the motorway.Georgian goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili was seen by officersholding his phone at the centre of his steering wheelwhile he was on the M6 near Warrington in January this year. The playerdid not enter a pleaand was convicted on the basis of police written evidence. Mamardashvili is only the latest in a steady flow of drivers being punished by the courts for using a mobile phone while behind the wheel. Between 2022-2025, there was a 21 per cent increase in convictions for the motoring offence. It has been illegal to use a phone while driving since 2003; But the law was tightened in 2022 to ensure that only hands-free use is legal. Since last year, AI-powered roadside cameras can identify drivers using phones or not wearing seatbelts. science The ability to play a musical instrumentimproves the attention span of children and young adults, a study suggests.Canadian researchers foundmusicians were able to respond faster and with fewer lapses in focuswhen their attention span was tested compared to non-musicians. The findings suggest learning an instrument could be a way of countering the erosion of attention spans caused by social media. The researchers at Canada’s McMaster University emphasised that the gains were broadly modest. But the findings add to a debate about the wider educational benefits of learning a musical instrument. Rafael Román-Caballero, who led the study, said children may accumulate wider cognitive skills as they learn an instrument, such as co-ordination and an ability to correct mistakes as they play. He said: “Like many cognitive abilities, attention may become more refined and efficient the more it is exercised.” money Rose Tresadern scooped the £1m National Lottery prize along with her two children after deciding tocontinue playing her late husband Derek’s numbersfollowing his death last year.Retired office manager Rose, 80, from Southend-on-Sea, Essex, said the win made it feel like Derek was “still looking out for us”. She plans to spend some of her winnings on a new ring to remind her of Derek. When Mrs Tresadern phoned her children to tell them of their good fortune, they initially thought something was wrong. She said: “I could hardly speak… When I told them we’d won £1m, there was just silence.” Mrs Tresadern is planning on using some of her winnings to move to a retirement home better suited to her mobility needs. She will also buy a ring after her original engagement ring became worn out. space America’s space agency has released details of the technology –from robotic landers to hopping drones– it aims to send to the Moon as part of plans to build a permanent base.The machines also includevehicles that astronauts could drive over the lunar surfaceand carry scientific instruments. Washington wants toland Americans back on the Moonbefore Donald Trump leaves office in 2029. In March, Nasa unveiled a $20bn programme to build a lunar base, powered by nuclear and solar energy, by 2032. The first phase will involve the building of robotic landers and hopping drones to map the Moon’s terrain. Jeff Bezos’s space company Blue Origin is among the US firms which have been awarded contracts. China is pressing ahead with its own plans to land humans on the Moon by 2030 as the two superpowers gear up for a new Cold War-style race to assert their technological supremacy in space. Most experts believe that Nasa’s 2032 deadline for a permanent lunar base is unrealistic. And while theArtemis IImission in April to send four astronauts around the Moon was a success, some scientists believe it is China which is most likely to be the next nation to place humans on the lunar surface. business Online giant Amazon said it paid more than £1.3bn in UK taxes last year –a rise of more than a fifthas higher labour and business costs pushed up its bill.The internet-based vendor saidits revenues in the UK had also risen, exceeding £30bn in 2025, compared to about £29bn in 2024. The company earlier this year launched its first drone deliveries in Darlington. Campaigners have previously criticised Amazon over the amount of tax its pays relative to the size of its operations. Its sales of £30bn last year dwarfed those of many traditional UK retailers. The company did not pay any corporation tax in 2021 and 2022 under a tax break scheme introduced by Conservative chancellor Rishi Sunak. But it is now seeing its bills increase significantly as it becomes more embedded into Britain’s retail landscape. Burnham is expected to take on Sir Keir Starmer for the Labour leadership in an attempt to take over as prime minister if he sees off Reform’s strong challenge to win the seat. Kenyon, who represents the Bryn with Ashton-in-Makerfield North ward on Wigan Borough Council, has already faced questions around his social media activities and controversial links, including a Facebook friendship with Gary Raikes, a former organiser for the British National Party and founder of the New British Union, a group which describes itself as seeking to “restore faith in fascism”. On a now-defunct rugby league discussion forum, Kenyon in 2019 wrote on his account: “I agree totally with the anti-abortion stance, it’s legalised killing of babies.” In the UK,abortionis legal up to 24 weeks of pregnancy with the approval of two doctors, and later in limited circumstances, such as risk to the woman’s life. Last year, British MPs voted to change criminal laws that govern abortion in England and Wales so that women who procure an abortion outside of the legal framework cannot be prosecuted. Political debate around abortion rights has intensified since the controversialoverturning of Roe v Wadeby the US Supreme Court in 2022, which means abortion laws vary widely by state in America. Kenyon attacked women as promiscuous and accused them of taking any decision to have an abortion lightly, in a later post on the same 2019 discussion thread. He wrote: “Reproductive rights? Women’s rights? They can dress it up all they want they are deciding to kill a baby inside the womb… What they mean is they want to shag anyone they want and if they get caught they get a second chance and treat is [sic] as a secondary last chance form of contraception. They ain’t kidding anyone”. Later responding to the same discussion, Kenyon wrote: “I’d hazard a guess that the majority [of abortions] are for vanity purposes like unwanted pregnancies.” The i Paperhas seen screenshots of the comments, plus other posts in which he mentions a Twitter (now X) profile that has been linked to him with the handle “robkenyon1” and promotes his debut novel,The Blood Waltzby Rob Kenyon, about a British soldier who time-travels to 1940 and takes on the Nazis. In 2022, Kenyon wrote on his now-deleted @robkenyon1 X account saying: “Life begins at conception. Abortion is the cowardly act of murdering a defenceless baby … They don’t want babies? Use contraception [sic]!” A Reform spokesman said abortion was a matter of conscience and that his comments were made before he was elected as a councillor in the 7 May local elections. But Labour Party chair Anna Turley said: “Reform’s Robert Kenyon isn’t fit to represent Makerfield. It’s clear that if he was elected to Parliament, he’d want to strip away the protections in place to support women and their right to choose.” She added: “Time and again, Nigel Farage and Reform prove they’re not on the side of women. The only way to stop Reform’s toxic politics taking hold in Makerfield is by voting for Labour’s Andy Burnham on Thursday 18 June.” A Reform UK spokesman said: “These comments were made before Councillor Kenyon entered politics. Rob is perfectly entitled to his own personal opinions on abortion. In this country, this issue has always been a matter of conscience, regardless of which party a politician represents. “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.” Reform dismissed previous reporting about Kenyon’s social media link to Raikes, the former BNP organiser, as a “pathetic attempt to smear a brilliant candidate”. “Having a Facebook friend… does not constitute an endorsement of views,” a spokesman said. Impartial news + intelligent debate All rights reserved. © 2026 Associated Newspapers Limited.

The archive of Robert Kenyon’s suspended X account reveals intense activity after three children were murdered in Southport in 2024 Your support matters: Sign up to emails Subscribe to Byline Times SHARE THIS: By the time he was announced as Reform UK’s candidate against Labour Mayor Andy Burnham in the Makerfield by-election, the X account of Robert F Kenyon, the “plucky plumber” who is currently Reform UK’s councillor for Bryn with Ashton-in-Makerfield North on Wigan Council, had been mysteriously suspended. However, an investigation into thearchive of Kenyon’s account@Makerfield_RFK, created in January 2024, reveals how the disappearance of his social media posts could be helpful to Nigel Farage’s party. Kenyon’s 419 archived tweets reveal that he campaigned as Reform UK’s candidate during the 2024 general election almost exclusively on alarmist claims about immigration and invasion. After he came second to Josh Simons in the general election, Kenyon began highlighting concerns about asylum seeker hostels and spreading false claims about their involvement in local crimes. By the time of the summer riots a few weeks later, which started after the murder of three children in Southport 20 miles away, Kenyon started seeding cover-up narratives, directing racialised claims at the Home Office, and using the deaths of children as a recruitment pitch. As the riots spread across England — mobs attacking mosques, burning hotels, clashing with police in a dozen cities — Kenyon had become part of a national disinformation network: amplifying Elon Musk, retweeting far-right influencers like Carl Benjamin and claiming that minority communities get more lenient policing. Well into the winter of 2024, Kenyon continued to focus on conspiracy theories about the Southport murders and claims of a “two-tier” policing system whilst celebrating the US election victory of Donald Trump. The newly-elected Wakefield councillor repeatedly shared extreme and racist content, and backed multiple far-right figures Kenyon’s 2024 election campaign for Makerfield was centred largely on promoting panic about immigration, which was applied to every policy area regardless of its actual subject matter. The archive from the campaign period — May through early July 2024 — shows a consistent method: take any official communication, any news story, any political statement, and run it through the immigration filter. On 27 June, a week before polling day, Yvette Cooper — then still shadow Home Secretary — posted about Labour’s plans for a Border Security Command. Kenyon replied: What about the ones that slip through Yvette? Will they get to choose their carpets for their new social housing? @Makerfield_RFK to @YvetteCooperMP — 27 June 2024 The same day, David Lammy posted about Labour’s foreign policy platform — “progressive realism,” reconnecting Britain after fourteen years of Conservative isolation. Kenyon’s reply had nothing to do with foreign policy: If Labour wins the election say goodbye to your Greenbelt and hello to millions of new migrants to the Country. @Makerfield_RFK to @DavidLammy — 26 June 2024 Richard Tice, Reform’s own leader, had amplified a claim that Labour’s housing policy would mean putting “illegal migrants in new homes ahead of British citizens.” Kenyon retweeted it. When Angela Rayner said Labour would ensure every borough takes a fair share of migrants, Kenyon amplified Tice’s framing of this as social housing queue-jumping. On 28 June, Labour posted a campaign graphic: four silhouetted figures standing on a beach at sunset, the image overlaid with the words “Change will only happen if you vote for it.” It was a stock-photo-style aspirational image, the figures in silhouette, looking out to sea. Kenyon replied: Was this photo taken at Calais? @Makerfield_RFK to @UKLabour — 28 June 2024, 17:41 BST There is nothing in the image that references migrants, the Channel, or Calais. The figures are silhouetted against a sunset. The insinuation — that dark silhouetted figures on a beach looking at the sea must be Channel migrants — is the visual grammar of far-right replacement memes. The same day, he posted another reply to Labour’s “vote for change” messaging: Is the change nice little sail boats instead of dinghies to get illegals across the channel? Lower carbon footprint too? @Makerfield_RFK to @UKLabour — 28 June 2024, 07:38 BST His standalone campaign pitch, tagged #makerfield and #reformuk, was unambiguous: Labour will fling open the doors even further to mass immigration, don’t let them, you can stop them by voting Reform UK. @Makerfield_RFK — campaign period, June 2024 Though Kenyon lost by 5,000 votes to Labour’s Josh Simons in the July General election, Reform UK’s share of the vote in Makerfield had risen to 32%. Meanwhile, the connection between immigration rhetoric and local crime — the mechanism that would operate at a national scale during the Southport riots — was already being deployed in Wigan itself in the weeks before the attack. On the evening of 18 July 2024, Wigan Council posted about a violent incident on Market Street in Wigan town centre. Two men had been arrested. The council described it as an isolated incident, with an increased police presence in place. Kenyon replied to both @WiganCouncil and @GMPWigan simultaneously with two tweets: Stop voting Labour folks if you want this to stop. @Makerfield_RFK to @WiganCouncil and @GMPWigan — 18 July 2024 Stop allowing HMOs in Wigan!!!!! @Makerfield_RFK to @WiganCouncil and @GMPWigan — 18 July 2024 On 20 July,Greater Manchester Policecharged a 19-year-old Wigan resident, Esmaeel Mohamed of Avon Road, Norley, with robbery, Section 18 wounding, burglary, possession of a bladed article, and affray. The charges related to astreet stabbingon Market Street on 18 July, in which a 19-year-old man received non-life-threatening injuries. Mohamed later pleaded guilty at Bolton Crown Court and was jailed for six years. The police officer who tackled him —Sergeant Carl Beck, who arrived to find Mohamed still armed and used a Taser to bring him down — was subsequently given anational bravery award. There is nothing in the GMP charging notice, the court record, or any subsequent reporting to suggest Mohamed was an asylum seeker, a hotel resident, or an illegal immigrant. He was a Wigan resident. Kenyon replied to the police charging tweet: The Conservatives have facilitated this alongside other big companies trying to make money from the illegal immigrant invasion. Labour won’t do anything to stop it or reverse it. Never forget that. @Makerfield_RFK to @GMPWigan — 20 July 2024 A local teenage stabbing, committed by a Wigan resident who would plead guilty and be jailed, had been publicly reframed as evidence of an “illegal immigrant invasion” — directed at Wigan Police’s own social media account, nine days before Southport. The HMO thread is equally revealing. Kenyon’s demand — “Stop allowing HMOs in Wigan!!!!!” — connected housing policy directly to crime and, implicitly, to immigration. When Wigan Today reported in October that a former dental surgery was being considered for conversion to a house of multiple occupation, Kenyon replied: “We dont want any more HMOs because we know who will be put in there.” The implication is consistent across both instances: HMOs mean migrants, migrants mean crime, and the political establishment is facilitating it. This was the playbook Kenyon brought to Southport. Posts uncovered by Byline Times show newly-elected Reform UK Councillor Ken Tranter comparing Muslims to cockroaches, who would “take over” the country The Southport attack happened at 11:47 BST. Three girls — Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Alice Aguiar — were killed at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class. Within hours, disinformation about the attacker’s identity spread across X, falsely naming him as a Muslim asylum seeker. It was that false identity — not the real one — that drove the first riot outside a Southport mosque the same evening. Kenyon’s first substantive engagement came at 13:02 BST, when he replied to Dan Wootton, theGB News-adjacent commentator, priming his audience for the cover-up narrative before any official information about the attacker had been released. They’ll keep the perpetrators identity quiet for as long as possible then blame mental health issues. Remember when the little girl got murdered on Mother’s Day in Bolton and they wouldn’t release her name or any photos? @Makerfield_RFK to @danwootton — 29 July 2024, 13:02 BST The Bolton reference is a well-established far-right trope, used to imply that Muslim perpetrators are protected by media suppression. By invoking it within 80 minutes of the attack, before the suspect’s identity was known to anyone outside the police, Kenyon was not asking a question. He was seeding an answer. At 14:25, he retweeted Turning Point UK — the British arm of the American organisation founded by Charlie Kirk — amplifying the claim that police “wouldn’t be stabbing kids” if they hadn’t been “pissing around virtue signalling.” At 14:46 he replied to Keir Starmer’s condolence statement with four exclamation marks: “We have been betrayed!!!!” At 15:02 he turned to Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, who had issued a statement expressing condolences and confirming she had spoken to the Merseyside Chief Constable. Kenyon’s response: Secure the borders, deport foreign criminals and free up prison spaces. @Makerfield_RFK to @YvetteCooperMP — 29 July 2024, 15:02 BST Six minutes later, he sent a second message to Cooper, ending in six exclamation marks and the words “SORT IT OUT NOW!!!!!! ” He told her she was “not some middle-aged middle manager” and that “since you were appointed, the Country has become a lot more dangerous.” The attacker’s identity was still unknown. The children were barely an hour dead. At 16:42, Kenyon amplified Carl Benjamin — the UKIP-era culture war figure who goes by Sargon of Akkad online and who had, a year earlier, been permanently banned from multiple platforms for targeted harassment. Benjamin’s tweet linked the Southport attack to Pride policing: “The same day 8 children were stabbed, the Merseyside police were celebrating homosexuality. We live in an insane world.” Kenyon endorsed it: “The government and the police have their priorities parallel to the people of this Country.” At 17:50, Darren Grimes posted a claim — unverified — about migrants shouting “This is for Rishi Sunak” as they crossed the Channel. Kenyon’s reply was a single word: That is an invasion. @Makerfield_RFK to @darrengrimes_ — 29 July 2024, 17:50 BST The language of invasion — not immigration, not crossing, invasion — is the vocabulary of the great replacement theory. Kenyon deployed it on the day three children were murdered, in response to an unverified claim about an unrelated incident. At 20:18, as the first riot broke out in Southport, Kenyon found a new target: @dapperlaughs, the comedian Daniel O’Reilly, who had a large following. Kenyon’s message was explicit: Join Reform UK, get involved, we are the only chance we have of saving this Country. @Makerfield_RFK to @dapperlaughs — 29 July 2024, 20:18 BST Robinson repeatedly uses “native” for white, “invader” for non-white and “African” and “Somali” for black across 140 posts examined by Byline Times Across the evening of 29 July and into the following days, Kenyon joined a coordinated effort to pressure police into releasing the suspect’s name. The suspect was 17 years old. Under English law, the names of minor suspects cannot be published without a court order. The police were legally justified in withholding the name. The false name — Ali Al-Shakati, a Rwandan asylum seeker — was already spreading on X when Kenyon directed his followers to @OliLondonTV, the right-wing influencer, and added: They can name him if it’s in the public’s interest, like they did with the Bulger killers. @Makerfield_RFK to @OliLondonTV — 29 July 2024 The Jamie Bulger case — in which two ten-year-old boys murdered a two-year-old in 1993 — is the most emotionally loaded child murder case in modern British history. Invoking it to argue that a 17-year-old suspect’s name should be released, while a false name was already circulating and riots were beginning, was incendiary. Later that night, at 22:53, he replied to @DylEvans_ — a nationalist account — who was noting that police had amended their statement to confirm the attacker was born in Cardiff. Kenyon: “If they can tell us that, they can tell us more.” The pressure campaign continued past midnight. When the riots spread nationally from 4 August, Kenyon’s account became a clearing house for far-right amplification. The most significant voice in this space was Elon Musk, who had by this point turned X into a personal political instrument and was using it to intervene directly in British politics. On 6 August — peak riot day, with mobs attacking mosques in multiple cities — Kenyon retweeted Musk twice. First, at 13:54: RT @elonmusk: #TwoTierKeir @Makerfield_RFK — 6 August 2024, 14:14 BST Then, at 12:53, he had already retweeted Musk’s question “Why aren’t all communities protected in Britain?” — directed at Starmer, implying that mosques were receiving police protection while white communities were not. Kenyon added his own gloss to a separateGB Newsclip the same evening: When he says communities does he mean ‘all communities’ or ‘certain communities’ @Makerfield_RFK to @GBNEWS — 6 August 2024, 20:24 BST Darren Grimes appeared in Kenyon’s timeline four times during the riot period. On 6 August, Kenyon amplified Grimes’s framing of a confrontation in Middlesbrough as “Mobs of Asian men target lone protestors” — then directed the content at @ClevelandPolice: “Have you seen this assault?” He was attempting to weaponise police social media against counter-protesters, using racialised source material. Carl Benjamin appeared again on 6 August. When Benjamin posted that Starmer was in his “führerbunker”, Kenyon replied with a single tag: “@Sargon_of_Akkad” — a nod of agreement that required no words. Lee Hurst, the Reform-supporting comedian repeatedly suspended from X, received “Bizarre” as Kenyon endorsed his #TwoTierKeir content. Richard Tice, Reform’s own MP, was retweeted when he drew equivalence between pro-Gaza protesters and the far-right rioters. When the Home Office issued a statement warning that those engaging in violent protests would face the full force of the law, Kenyon replied to it directly: Is it a hate crime for Asian men walk round in Birmingham assaulting white people en masse? @Makerfield_RFK to @ukhomeoffice — 6 August 2024, 11:02 BST This is not a question. It is a racialised reframing of the riots as anti-white violence. Running alongside the amplification was a quieter but equally significant thread: justifying the rioters and delegitimising those who condemned them. When Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said he did not understand how people could want to weaponise the deaths of three children before investigations had concluded, Kenyon’s reply toChannel 4 Newswas: “Who’s weaponising it? Absolute throbber.” He had spent the previous 36 hours doing precisely what Rotheram described. WhenChannel 4 Newsreported that Starmer had condemned “far-right thuggery”, Kenyon replied: “Sorry but when BLM rioted he knelt for them.” The BLM comparison was the single most recycled line in far-right riot discourse during this period — a talking point, not an argument. When @cez_thomas posted footage of a man being surrounded by a group during the riots and said they would hand the video to the police, Kenyon intervened: “A gang surrounds a bloke, they push him and he hits back. Then they try and play the victim, typical left.” He was providing narrative cover for a rioter caught on camera, framing the person reporting the incident to police as the aggressor. On 7 August, with riots still ongoing, Kenyon posted what appeared to be a moment of restraint: There’s rumours of a protest in Wigan tonight, I would strongly suggest that no supporters of Reform attend this protest. They are being set up by people who are trying to stoke division and cause chaos, don’t play into their hands. Don’t let them divide us. @Makerfield_RFK — 7 August 2024, 13:32 BST Read carefully, this is not a condemnation. It does not say the protests are wrong. It says Reform supporters will be used as cover by provocateurs. The full sweep of accounts Kenyon engaged with during the Southport and riot period maps a coherent far-right information ecosystem: Elon Musk, Dan Wootton, Darren Grimes, Carl Benjamin, Lee Hurst, Richard Tice MP, Rupert Lowe MP, Lee Anderson MP, Turning Point UK, Oli London, and accounts including @BGatesIsaPsycho — whose handle is self-explanatory — and @chewbertie69, a nationalist account amplifying riot footage. When this reporter posted a thread about the Online Safety Act’s provisions on knowingly spreading false and inflammatory information during the riots, Kenyon replied directly: “You mean like a certain left wing account that said mosques were being targeted and people were being acid attacked?” Again, no condemnation of the rioters or the violence, but some cryptic reference to Hope Not Hate. Kenyon did not give up on his theme of migrant violence and the false claims that had led to the worst riots in the UK for a generation.  On 29 October, he amplified formerGB News presenter Dan Wootton’s claim of a “Southport Massacre cover-up”, adding: “The timing of the release of this makes me wonder.” On 31 October, he replied to aWiganTodayreport about plans to convert a dental surgery into housing with multiple occupants: We dont want any more HMOs because we know who will be put in there. @Makerfield_RFK to @WigToday — 31 October 2024, 13:39 UTC By the night of 5 November 2024, as American polls closed, Kenyon posted: Lets go Brandon! Vote TRUMP to save America. @Makerfield_RFK — Tuesday 5 November 2024, 22:45 UTC Kenyon has since launched a newX account, which bizarrely seems to have been set up in the US. Byline Timeshas contacted four spokespeople at Reform UK for comment, but had not received a response by the time of publication. Byline Times is brought to you by a dedicated team of journalists and contributors – producing independent, fearless, investigative and thought-provoking journalism not found in the established media. We are regulated byImpress. To find the nearest newsagent stocking this month’s edition,search here. AboutContactSubscriptions Complaints Byline TimesByline FestivalByline TVByline Times on SubstackByline BooksByline Audio Byline InvestigatesBylines Network Byline Media Holdings Ltd, Byline Times &Yes We Work Ltd

Hello. It looks like you’re using an ad blocker that may prevent our website from working properly. To receive the best experience possible, please make sure any ad blockers are switched off,or add https://experience.tinypass.com to your trusted sites, and refresh the page. If you have any questions or need help you canemail us. He's been accused of sexism and vile social media posts. But has Robert Kenyon committed a far more serious sin in Nigel Farage's eyes? Rats in a Sack Reform’s rather unpleasant candidate for the forthcoming Makerfield by-election has so far escaped the sack despite a series of his vile social media messages being exposed. But now Robert Kenyon has been accused of something taken far more seriously by Nigel Farage – he may have been a Remainer. It has emerged that Kenyon, the Wigan councillor and plumber selected to take on Andy Burnham, had previously claimed he did not vote for Brexit and praised European freedom of movement on social media. In a social media post dating from March 28, 2019, an account attributed to Kenyon rejected suggestions that he was a stereotypical right winger. He wrote: “So anyone who thinks I love Trump, voted Brexit, read theDaily Mail, live in the 1950s, a Tory and 103 is wrong. I’m none of the above.” Rats in a Sack The account was attributed to Kenyon through references to his X/Twitter handle, “robkenyon1”, a later entry promoting “my debut novel” asThe Blood Waltzby Rob Kenyon, and repeated references consistent with his work as a plumber and gas engineer. On the same forum – intended to be about rugby league – he wrote: “Free movement of people is great when they are natives of the EU countries and not people from outside Europe seeking a Greek passport that will allow them into any country in the EU.” The same account was also said to have made a series of sexist comments about women, including posts in which Kenyon said: “I’m sexist, sorry but I am. Women can’t ref, drive or give directions.” Other posts appeared to have referred to European women’s bodies while saying English women “don’t care” and “just walk around with their fat bellies and odd shapes pushing a pram at 16 in their PJ’s”. Other posts attributed to the same account appeared to show Kenyon expressing strongly anti-abortion views, the account writing that women seeking abortions were “deciding to kill a baby inside the womb” and describing many abortions as being for “vanity purposes like unwanted pregnancies”. Rats in a Sack And these follow Kenyon’s sharing of a particularly obscene message from a man eager to“smell and lick” a part of TV presenter Carol Vorderman’s anatomy, to which Kenyon added: “He’s only saying what we’re all thinking.” All very embarrassing for Reform, but particularly for its MP Danny Kruger, who went out on the airwaves to bat for Kenyon at the weekend. Kruger insisted the repugnant Vorderman comments were “private” and those of an “ordinary” man, adding of the remarks published publicly on a social network: “I’m not going to judge people for what are essentially regarded at the time and intended as private conversations.” Might this be the same Danny Kruger who toldPoliticothis year how a Reform government he would be part of would “undo the sexual revolution” of the 1960s and attacked the UK’s “totally unregulated sexual economy”, suggesting an aggressive policing of private lives? It is indeed! Hello. It looks like you’re using an ad blocker that may prevent our website from working properly. To receive the best experience possible, please make sure any ad blockers are switched off,or addhttps://experience.tinypass.comto your trusted sites, and refresh the page. If you have any questions or need help you canemail us. 26 May 2026 2:38 PM © 2026 The New World

Robert Kenyon(Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News) The Reform UK candidate in the Makerfield by-election candidate admitted to being 'sexist' and made derogatory comments about women in online posts, it has been alleged. Plumber and newy-electedWigancouncillor Robert Kenyon is standing for the party in June 18 poll where he is seen as the main rival to Labour'sAndy Burnhamas he bids to return to parliament. However he has come under fire over alleged claims he made on social media before entering politics. Click here for our dedicated Makerfield by-election newsletterwith exclusive interviews and analysis A series of new alleged comments have now emerged, which include him claiming women have abortions for “vanity purposes”,the Mirror reports. Reform said the Coun Kenyon was "perfectly entitled to his own personal opinions on abortion" adding that he isn't a "polished, professional politician and doesn't speak like one." Coun Kenyon with his party's leader Nigel Farage on a visit to the constiuency earlier this month(Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News) The comments were made on a rugby league forum by an account under the username 'post', which says in other comments that theirTwitterhandle is @robkenyon1 and promotes Mr Kenyon's book, The Blood Waltz. Tweets sent by the 'post' account accused women of taking any decision to have an abortion lightly, in a later post on the same 2019 discussion thread. They said: "Reproductive rights? Women's rights? They can dress it up all they want they are deciding to kill a baby inside the womb. ... What they mean is they want to shag anyone they want and if they get caught they get a second chance and treat is as a secondary last chance form of contraception. They ain't kidding anyone". Later on the same topic, 'post' added: "I'd hazard a guess that the majority [of abortions] are for vanity purposes like unwanted pregnancies." In comments from the now-deleted robkenyon1 Twitter /X account, it said: "Life begins at conception. Abortion is the cowardly act of murdering a defenceless baby ... They don't want babies? Use contraception!" Labour chair Anna Turley said some of Mr Kenyon's comments were 'vile' According to the i, he also allegedly made posts on an online rugby fan forum in the 2010s reportedly claiming English women "don't care" about their appearance and "just walk around with their fat bellies and odd shapes pushing a pram at 16 in their PJ's". An account allegedly linked to the plumber also wrote that women can't "ref, drive or give directions" and declared: "I'm sexist, sorry but I am." The user also allegedly said in a forum: "European women...all have really good figures and are good looking", and responded to a post with links to images of women saying: "Wouldn't get me off any of those with a bazooka." Discussing women presenting matches on Sky in 2019, he allegedly wrote: "The women on the panel's aren't up to the job and only there to tick a box. In a now deleted post on X in 2019, the user also suggested he would "rank higher" than a female presenter who had played professionally because he had "won the Champions League with Accrington Stanley on FIFA Career Mode". It comes after campaigning group HopeNotHate claimed Mr Kenyon had two X accounts, one of which has been suspended by the platform. The other has since been deleted, HopeNotHate alleged. Mr Kenyon is also under fire over lewd remarks about Carol Vorderman posted on the deleted X account. The former Countdown star has demanded an apology from Reform's by-election candidate. Labourparty chair Anna Turley said: "It's a really important election, particularly when you look at the candidates, the Reform candidate who is reportedly coming out with some horrendous misogyny, sexism, some really vile comments on social media, or you've got someone like Andy Burnham with a terrific track record of delivery, who is a local lad who really cares about the community there, and is going to be a brilliant representative for them." A Reform UK spokesman said: "These comments were made before Cllr Kenyon entered politics. Rob is perfectly entitled to his own personal opinions on abortion. In this country, this issue has always been a matter of conscience, regardless of which party a politician represents. "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." 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Tom Swarbrick 4pm - 6pm4pm to 6pm Vanessa Baffoe 4pm - 7pm4pm to 7pm Nigel Farage confirms that self-employed plumber Robert Kenyon will be party's choice to run Want LBC stories before everyone else? Set us as your Preferred Source on Google By Jacob Paul Robert Kenyon was friends with a neo-fascist on a now-deleted Facebook page, it has emerged - an allegation Labour has described as "serious and deeply troubling". Reform UK announced this week that Kenyon will stand against Labour Mayor for Greater Manchester Andy Burnham in the Makerfield by-election, with other parties expecting to announce their picks for the vote in the days to come. It has since emerged that Kenyon, a self-employed plumber, was friends with fascist organiser Gary Raikes on a now-deleted Facebook page, according to the Searchlight campaign group. Kenyon, who has served as an army reservist and previously worked as a specialist technician for the NHS in Lancashire, also had an X account terminated by the platform in 2024. Reform has not denied the allegations, but said the candidate's Facebook page was taken down after he was elected as a local councillor on May 7. The now-removed page was reportedly a conventional Facebook page, and the party has said he needed a public-facing profile after becoming a councillor. Read more:Will Andy Burnham be able to beat Reform in Makerfield? What the data shows Read more:Reform chooses plumber as candidate for Makerfield by-election Reform has insisted that being a Facebook friend "does not constitute an endorsement of his views" and claimed Kenyon never spoke to or was in touch with the fascist organiser. Raikes, 67, is the leader of the neo-fascist New British Union, an attempted revival of Oswald Mosley's British Union of Fascists (BUF). He was previously a British National Party and Britain First official. Labour has urged Reform leader Nigel Farage to reveal whether he was aware of the connection and demanded an explanation from Kenyon. "These are serious and deeply troubling allegations. Nigel Farage needs to urgently come clean on whether Reform were aware of his candidate's apparent fascist friends," a Labour spokesperson said. They added: "Robert Kenyon must also explain himself to those he is seeking to represent. What is his relationship with this man? Voters in Makerfield and across Britain deserve an answer." Announcing Kenyon as the candidate on Wednesday, Farage said: "When he [Kenyon] campaigned here at the general election, hundreds of people joined as friends, and one of them turned out to be unsavoury. "I am utterly confident that in Rob, we've got somebody who's done his bit for his country, done his bit for himself, does his bit for the community." Kenyon ran in the 2024 election where he finished in second place and has recently been elected to Wigan Council for Bryn with Ashton-in-Makerfield North. He has recently shared a picture of him drinking in Wetherspoons, stating that he and not Mr Burnham could be found in a Wigan pub on a Friday night. The Makerfield by-election will be held on June 18. Josh Simons stood down as MP for Makerfield to allow Labour's Andy Burnham a way back into the Commons,something he would need to do in order to challenge Sir Keir Starmer for party leadership. Minister Dan Jarvis said Labour needs to listen to the message delivered by voters in the local elections and act, when asked if his party needs to change. Asked about Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham’s comments that “Labour needs to change if we are to regain people’s trust”,Mr Jarvis told LBC: “Well, I think the Prime Minister has acknowledged that the recent election results provide a critique on the performance of the Government. “So, yes, we do need to make sure that we are delivering on the priorities of the people. The Prime Minister’s absolutely focused on that." Restore Britain hasannounced its Makerfield by-election candidate will be Rebecca Shepherd,a businesswoman. Howling Laud Hope of the Monster Raving Looney Party is the other candidate to have declared so far. A Reform UK spokesman said: "A Facebook friend does not constitute an endorsement of his views. "Robert Kenyon is a brilliant candidate and we are proud to have him represent the party. British politics needs more real people involved like Robert." 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Robert Kenyon has faced accusations of misogyny and homophobia as a result of his past social media posts. Political Correspondent Reform UK’scandidate for theMakerfieldby-election’s unearthed social media posts have stunned the general public over the last week. The right-wing party announced last Tuesday thatRobert Kenyon,a supposed “plucky plumber” and Wigan councillor, was going to be taking on Labour’sAndy Burnhamin the race to win next month’s crunch contest. Reform and Labour are locked in a two-horse race for the seat with Kenyon hoping to win over the support of the pro-Brexit constituency. However, Burnham’s reputation as Greater Manchester mayor has given him an early lead according to polling – and he is hoping to oust Keir Starmer as prime minister if he wins the by-election. With all eyes on the contest, Kenyon’s historic online presence has been dredged up – revealing some deeply problematic views. Even so, Reform has stood by its candidate, even trying to market his outspoken comments as a positive. Here’s what has been uncovered so far: An account uncovered byThe Independentand linked to Kenyonwrotewomen can’t “ref, drive or give directions” on an online rugby fan forum in the 2010s. He said women presenting rugby games on TV “aren’t up to the job and only there to tick a box”, adding: “I’m sexist, sorry but I am.” He also objectified European women’s bodies, saying English women “don’t care” and “just walk around with their fat bellies and odd shapes pushing a pram at 16 in their PJ’s”. What did Reform say? A spokesperson said: “These comments, which are little more than locker room banter, were made more than a decade ago – well before Rob was in politics.” Reform’s spokesperson said: “We simply don’t care about establishment hit jobs. We fully back Rob and are confident he will be an excellent MP for Makerfield.” The i paperunearthed 2019 comments sent on a rugby league forum which claimed women who have abortions get them for “vanity purposes” and so they can “shag anyone they want”. Hope Not Hate campaignersalso found that Kenyon also called abortion a “cowardly act of murdering a defenceless baby”in a series of now-deleted tweets from one account. He also suggested women falsely claim to have been raped to terminate a pregnancy. What did Reform say? A spokespersonsaid: “Cllr Kenyon is perfectly entitled to his own personal opinions on abortion. In this country, this issue has always been a matter of conscience, regardless of which party a politician represents.” The MirrorreportsKenyon described gay people as “poofs” on a 2009 forum, and in 2010, described them as “mincing about” on TV. In one post, he wrote: “You can’t call her ‘The Queen’ anymore because it offends the poofs.” The next year, he wrote: “People who want to make a stand for homosexuals need not combat the throwaway comments of a sportsman on twitter but need to do something about the way homosexuals are perceived in the mainstream media, for instance having Julian Clarey [sic], Graham Norton, 4 poofs and a piano and Paul O’Grady mincing about on TV does a lot more damage to the reputation of homosexuals and causes greater insult in my opinion.” In 2020, he wrote: “If LGBT just want acceptance then stop making a big song and dance about it, attention seeking and taking over other events because that’s turning people against you”. He also called Labour the “party for trannys”, according to theObserver. What did Reform say? A spokesperson said: “Many of these comments were made nearly 20 years ago – well before Rob was in politics. We simply don’t care about establishment hit jobs. We fully back Rob and are confident he will be an excellent MP for Makerfield.” Kenyon cast doubt on the Covid vaccine on X while using an account which has since been deleted. Archived webpages uncovered by theGuardianrevealed Kenyon said: “It’s not making people sicker, I’ve no booster and had covid last week asymptomatic.” When pressed on why his opinion was based on his own anecdotal experience, he said: “At the same time I had it, four other people on the course I was on caught it all the same as me, no symptoms.” He claimed his 70-something mother-in-law with chronic ung disease also experienced it as a “cold”. Kenyon advised someone else who was ill with Covid: “Wait longer, take vitamins, stop having boosters.” He also replied to a Sky News post about England’s chief medical officer Chris Whitty urging Brits to get booster jabs, saying Whitty can “fuck right off”. He also claimed worries about a new variant in January 2022 were designed to “scare parents into getting their kids jabbed”. He wrote: “I smell a rat.” What did Reform say? “Robert had all his Covid jabs during the pandemic and his children are fully up to date on every vaccination,” a party representative said. “These comments were made long before Rob was in politics. He 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.” The Timesreported that Kenyon may not have voted for Brexit, even though that is a core policy of Reform UK. In a social media post dating from March 28, 2019, he claimed he was not the typical right-winger. “So anyone who thinks I love Trump, voted Brexit, read the Daily Mail, live in the 1950s, a Tory and 103 is wrong. I’m none of the above,” he said. In another post, including a discussion called ‘Brexit Anyone?’, he wrote: “I woke up the day after Brexit shitting myself to what was voted for”, though he later said the EU’s treatment of Britain made him “glad we voted out”. Kenyon also appeared to praise the principle of European free movement – one of Reform’s greatest qualms with the bloc – writing: ” “Free movement of people is great when they are natives of the EU countries and not people from outside Europe seeking a Greek passport that will allow them into any country in the EU.” What did Reform say? A representative said Kenyon “voted Leave in 2016 and is a proud Brexiteer, unlike Andy Burnham who will drag the UK back into the EU by any means possible”. Hope Not Hate alsorevealed that in 2021 Kenyon interacted with a social media message sent to the Countdown host, which read: “Happy birthday Carol, my God I would love to smell and lick your arsehole.” Kenyon replied, “he’s only saying what we’re all thinking,” along with a thumbs up and a laughing emoji. Vorderman has called Kenyon a misogynist, andtold the Daily Mirrorthat she wanted “apology from Rob Kenyon, to me, and to all the other people he’s abused online.” What did Reform say? Danny Krugerdefended Kenyon’s comments on Vorderman on Monday, telling BBC Radio 4′sTodayprogramme: “The great challenge for social media for private people is that they use it as if they are chatting to their friends in the pub. “It was a clearly inappropriate thing to say. I’m not going to judge people for what was intended as private conversations. Clearly that is not the kind of comment you would want an elected politician to say.” Campaign organisationSearchlightsaid Kenyon was friends with fascist campaigner Gary Raikes on a now deleted Facebook page. What did Reform say? Reform has not disputed this claim. Party leader Nigel Farage said: “When he [Kenyon] campaigned here at the general election, hundreds of people joined as friends, and one of them turned out to be unsavoury. “I am utterly confident that in Rob, we’ve got somebody who’s done his bit for his country, done his bit for himself, does his bit for the community.” Kenyon claimed Russia was “within its rights” to invade the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea back in 2014, according toThe Telegraph. In an online forum, he agreed with a post which called the annexation “democracy in action”, writing: “Russia are well within their rights to do what they have done as we did with the Falklands.” What did Reform say? “At no point did Rob explicitly support or endorse Russia’s actions in Crimea,” a spokesperson said. “He is fully opposed to Russia’s illegal and brutal invasion of Ukraine. We fully back Cllr Kenyon. He is an excellent local candidate, who we are confident will be a superb MP for Makerfield.” Subscribe to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.