Reform UK Candidate in Makerfield By-Election Faces Scrutiny Over Past Online Comments

Reform UK candidate Robert Kenyon has acknowledged making "crass" online comments during the campaign for the Makerfield by-election in Greater Manchester, as broadcaster Carol Vorderman publicly demanded an apology for offensive remarks he directed at her on social media. The controversy has thrust scrutiny of the candidate's social media history into the spotlight, with the party defending its decision to keep him as their standard-bearer against Labour's former Manchester mayor.

The Comments and Response

Kenyon, a plumber and local councillor, admitted to making inappropriate posts on defunct rugby league forums and other social media platforms before entering politics. In a BBC interview conducted at a local pub, he characterized the remarks as products of his past and stressed he was "not a polished professional" when confronted about his online behavior.

Among the unearthed posts, Kenyon had responded to a sexually explicit comment about television presenter Carol Vorderman with a thumbs-up emoji, a laughing emoji, and the phrase "He's only saying what we're all thinking." When questioned about these remarks, Kenyon denied making sexual comments about Vorderman herself, instead describing his response as endorsing "a crass joke" made by another user. On other issues, he was confronted with comments dismissing Brexit as "peddled nationalism," which he denied making, despite their appearance on public forums.

Vorderman's Demand and Reform's Defense

Vorderman, a former television presenter and numbers expert on the game show Countdown, has publicly labeled Kenyon a misogynist and a "cowardly man," noting that he deleted his social media accounts following the revelations. She emphasized that the comments were made on public platforms and constitute online abuse, demanding a formal apology to herself and other individuals targeted by his posts.

Reform UK has declined to investigate Kenyon or remove him as a candidate. Danny Kruger, a senior Reform figure who joined the party in September, defended the decision by characterizing Kenyon's posts as private conversations made before he was a politician. Kruger acknowledged the comments were "inappropriate" and "clearly wrong," but maintained they did not warrant disciplinary action against someone who was "an ordinary man from an ordinary place" at the time of posting. Vorderman rejected this reasoning, stating that public posts on public platforms cannot be dismissed as private remarks and that Reform's defense sends a message condoning online abuse against women.

The By-Election Context

The Makerfield by-election is scheduled for June 18 and features fourteen candidates. The race is expected to be contested primarily between Kenyon and Andy Burnham, the current Labour Mayor of Greater Manchester, who stepped down from his previous role to pursue the parliamentary seat. The by-election was triggered by the resignation of former MP Josh Simons, who made way for Burnham's candidacy.

Kenyon has campaigned on a message of being a local representative who understands the constituency. He argued that residents have felt unheard for four decades and would benefit from having a candidate who "lives in and knows the area" rather than a career politician.