Labour Condemns "Deeply Troubling" Allegations Surrounding Reform UK Candidate’s Social Media History

The Labour Party has issued a stark warning regarding "serious and deeply troubling allegations" connected to the online presence of Reform UK’s candidate for the Makerfield by-election, Robert Kenyon.

According to the campaigning group Searchlight, Kenyon was previously listed as a friend on a Facebook page belonging to Gary Raikes, a known fascist campaigner. Although the specific Facebook page in question has since been deleted, Reform UK has not contested the accuracy of this claim. Additionally, it has been revealed that Kenyon’s X account was suspended in 2024. The party has declined to provide any justification for the termination of that account.

In response to the controversy, Reform UK stated that Kenyon’s Facebook page was removed following his election as a local councillor earlier this month. The party argued that the deleted page was a standard profile and that maintaining a public-facing digital presence is appropriate for elected officials. Furthermore, Reform emphasized that Kenyon had never communicated with Raikes and asserted that simply being connected on Facebook does not equate to endorsing Raikes’ political 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."

Labour responded sharply, with a spokesperson demanding transparency. "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."

Meanwhile, the Green Party of England and Wales is set to announce its candidate for the by-election on Wednesday. While some on the political left explored the possibility of an arrangement where the Greens would withdraw to support Labour, such a move was rejected. The Green Party maintains that standing as an independent alternative is crucial to its identity as a left-of-Labour force, and withdrawing would undermine that positioning. However, questions remain regarding the extent of their campaign efforts.

Adrian Ramsay, the former co-leader of the Green Party in England and Wales, highlighted the broader political stakes on social media. He argued that "progressive parties need to recognise that the big threat to the country is a Reform-led govt." Ramsay added that preventing such an outcome would require cooperation, noting, "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."

The electoral field in Makerfield is further complicated by the entry of Restore Britain, which has already selected a candidate, potentially drawing support away from Reform UK. The full list of candidates currently contesting the Makerfield by-election includes those from Labour, Reform UK, the Green Party, and Restore Britain.

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