Labour has condemned "serious and deeply troubling allegations" concerning the online activity of Reform UK’s candidate in the Makerfield by-election, Robert Kenyon. Campaign group Searchlight has alleged that Kenyon was connected via Facebook to Gary Raikes, a known fascist campaigner. Although the Facebook profile in question has been deleted, Reform UK has not disputed the existence of this connection.

Additionally, Kenyon’s X account was suspended in 2024. Reform UK has provided no clarification regarding the reasons for this termination. Regarding the deleted Facebook page, the party stated it was removed following Kenyon’s election as a local councillor earlier this month. They argued that the page was standard and that establishing a public profile was appropriate upon assuming public office. The party further maintained that Kenyon had never interacted with Raikes and that simply being Facebook friends did not equate to endorsing Raikes’ views.

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."

In response, a Labour spokesman emphasized that voters in Makerfield and across the nation deserve clarity. "Nigel Farage needs to urgently come clean on whether Reform were aware of his candidate's apparent fascist friends," the spokesman said. "Robert Kenyon must also explain himself to those he is seeking to represent. What is his relationship with this man?"

Meanwhile, the Green Party of England and Wales is set to select its candidate for the by-election on Wednesday. Although some on the left explored the possibility of an agreement to withdraw the Green candidate in favor of Labour, there was no support for such a move. The Greens view themselves as a left-wing alternative to Labour nationwide and believe that standing aside would undermine that positioning. However, questions remain regarding the level of effort the party will invest in the campaign.

Adrian Ramsay, former co-leader of the Green Party in England and Wales, took to social media to argue 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." He added that Labour leader Sir Peter Burnham must clearly articulate his stance on implementing a fair voting system.

In other developments, the Restore Britain party has already chosen its candidate, a move that could potentially divert some votes away from Reform UK.

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