Labour Condemns ‘Deeply Troubling’ Allegations Surrounding Reform UK Candidate

The Labour Party has issued a strong rebuke regarding the social media history of Reform UK’s candidate in the Makerfield by-election, describing the emerging allegations as “serious and deeply troubling.” The controversy stems from claims by the campaigning group Searchlight, which asserts that Robert Kenyon was connected to fascist campaigner Gary Raikes on a Facebook page that has since been deleted. Reform UK has not disputed the existence of this connection.

Compounding the scrutiny, it has been revealed that Kenyon’s X account was suspended in 2024. The party has provided no clarification regarding the reasons for this termination. In response to questions about the candidate’s online presence, Reform UK stated that Kenyon’s Facebook page was taken down following his election as a local councillor earlier this month. The party argued that the profile had been a standard personal page and that he felt compelled to create a public-facing profile upon assuming his new public office.

Reform UK maintains that Kenyon never engaged in direct communication with Raikes and insists that being listed as a Facebook friend does not equate to an endorsement of Raikes’ ideology.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage defended his candidate on Wednesday, stating: “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.”

A Labour spokesperson countered this defense, demanding transparency. “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,” the spokesperson said. “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.”

In parallel developments, the Green Party of England and Wales is scheduled to announce its candidate for the by-election on Wednesday. While some on the political left had explored the possibility of a strategic arrangement where the Greens would withdraw to prevent splitting the anti-Reform vote, there was no interest from the Green Party in such a deal. The Greens view themselves as a distinct left-wing alternative to Labour and believe that standing aside would undermine that positioning. However, questions remain regarding the extent of resources the Greens will dedicate to this specific campaign.

Adrian Ramsay, the former co-leader of the Green Party in England and Wales, highlighted the broader strategic context on social media, noting that “progressive parties need to recognise that the big threat to the country is a Reform-led govt. And in my view avoiding that will involve some give and take from everyone. Burnham must clearly set out his position on a fair voting system.”

Additionally, the party Restore Britain has already chosen a candidate, a move that could potentially erode some of Reform UK’s support base. The current lineup of candidates contesting the Makerfield by-election includes those listed above.

Source: BBC News Generated at: 2026-05-20 18:12:55 UTC