Makerfield Reform UK Candidate Acknowledges 'Crass' Past Remarks Amidst Campaign Scrutiny

Robert Kenyon, the Reform UK candidate for the Makerfield by-election, has conceded that he made "crass" remarks in the past after his online history came under intense scrutiny during the campaign. Kenyon has faced backlash regarding previous social media posts covering topics such as his stance on Brexit, abortion, and the conflict in Ukraine.

In a discussion with the BBC, Kenyon clarified that these comments were made prior to his entry into politics. Despite the controversy, Reform UK has expressed its full support for Kenyon, stating that the party does not intend to launch an investigation into his prior statements.

Kenyon is one of 14 contenders vying for the Greater Manchester seat in the by-election scheduled for Thursday, June 18. The electoral contest was sparked by the resignation of former MP Josh Simons, who stepped down to allow Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to run for the seat and return to Westminster. The race is widely viewed as a head-to-head battle between Burnham and Kenyon, a plumber and local councillor.

Speaking with the BBC at a local pub, Kenyon emphasized that he is not a "career politician." He argued that if elected, constituents would feel heard, noting, "People would feel like they had a voice now, whereas in the last 40 years they've not." He further described himself as a "local lad" who resides in and understands the community, claiming he is "well in tune with" the people he hopes to represent.

When questioned about his previous social media activity, Kenyon admitted he was "not a polished professional." Regarding posts from a now-defunct rugby league forum where he described Brexit as an economically harmful initiative driven by politicians who "peddled the nationalistic pish," Kenyon claimed he had no memory of writing it. However, he insisted that he did vote for Brexit.

The candidate also addressed comments involving TV presenter Carol Vorderman. Vorderman has demanded an apology after Kenyon liked a sexually explicit post about her, adding a thumbs-up and laughing emoji, along with the caption, "He's only saying what we're all thinking." Kenyon denied making sexual remarks about Vorderman, explaining that he had replied to another user’s post with what he termed a "crass joke."

"There might have been a few crass comments that I've said," he acknowledged. However, he shifted the focus to Labour’s policies, particularly concerning grooming gangs and transgender rights. "I don't think the Labour Party know what a woman is," Kenyon stated, arguing that this issue is "a bit more dangerous than a few 10-year-old tweets."

Kenyon, recently elected as a Reform UK councillor for Bryn with Ashton-in-Makerfield North ward in last month’s local elections, said he would avoid such language in the future. He noted that public figures are now "under a microscope."

"Once you're being paid by the public purse to represent them, you've got a duty to behave in a certain way," he concluded.

A comprehensive list of candidates contesting the Makerfield by-election is available here.

Source: BBC News Generated at: 2026-06-02 17:22:59 UTC