Reform Backs Makerfield Candidate Amid Row over Social Media Posts
Reform says the posts were made before Robert Kenyon entered politics, as Labour and campaign groups press for an apology.
- Reform UK fully backed Robert Kenyon, its self-employed plumber candidate for the Makerfield by-election, despite mounting criticism over his social media posts about Russia's invasion of Crimea and the Covid pandemic.
- The Daily Telegraph reported Wednesday evening that Kenyon replied to a 2014 forum post agreeing Russia was 'well within their rights' to invade Crimea, comparing the annexation to the UK's claim over the Falkland Islands.
- Additional resurfaced posts showed Kenyon questioning Covid severity in July 2022, advising others to skip boosters, and making degrading comments about women across rugby forums dating to the 2010s.
- Conservative shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge called for Nigel Farage to 'immediately condemn' the posts, while the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice group demanded an apology, saying anti-vax rhetoric 'threatens our ability to save lives when the next pandemic hits'.
- The Makerfield by-election on June 18 shapes as a tight contest, with Labour's Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham holding a three-point polling lead over Kenyon, who secured 31.8 per cent of the vote in 2024.
16 Articles
16 Articles
Reform’s Kenyon said ‘Russia within rights to invade Ukraine’
As we’ve reported, Reform’s Makerfield by-election candidate has some predictably rancid opinions. At the same time, he’s said some things which may surprise you – specifically that he voted against Brexit and backed freedom of movement. Getting back to Reform’s comfort zone, we’ve now learned Kenyon supported Vladimir Putin’s illegal invasion of Crimea back when it was held by Ukraine: Reform’s Makerfield candidate under fire for resurfaced Ru…
Reform’s Robert Kenyon has some things to say - sorry isn't one of them
Robert Kenyon says he wants to represent the people of Makerfield as a local man who understands local struggles - but the Reform UK candidate’s campaign has been dominated by questions over controversial past social media posts. Beth Abbit went to meet him.
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