Robert Kenyon - Reform UK Candidate, Makerfield
Robert Kenyon — Reform UK Candidate, Makerfield By-Election 2026
Last updated: 25 May 2026 By-election date: Thursday 18 June 2026
Bio
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Full name | Robert Kenyon |
| Age | ~46 (born c. 1979) |
| Location | Wigan, Greater Manchester |
| Occupation | Plumber (self-employed) |
| Political role | Wigan Councillor (Standish ward, elected 2024) |
| First-time candidate | Yes (stood in Makerfield 2024 GE, came 3rd) |
How They Got Selected
Selected as Reform UK candidate for Makerfield by-election on 19 May 2026. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said they would "throw absolutely everything at it." Previously stood in Makerfield in the 2024 general election, finishing third with ~15.6% of the vote.
Key Statements & Quotes
- Called abortion "cowardly murder" and suggested women lie about rape to obtain abortions (24 May 2026, The Observer/Byline Times)
- Dismissed Carol Vorderman's criticism by calling her a "luvvie" from the "London media bubble"
Controversies
Byline Times 419-Tweet Archive (24 May 2026)
Byline Times published an exposé of Kenyon's deleted Twitter history — 419 deleted tweets revealing:
- Holocaust denial/revisionism: shared content from known Holocaust deniers, questioned established death toll figures
- COVID conspiracy theories: called the pandemic a "plandemic", spread vaccine misinformation
- Abortion: called abortion "cowardly murder", suggested women lie about rape for abortions
- Anti-Islam rhetoric: characterised Islam as a "violent ideology"
- Transphobic comments: mocked transgender people, deadnamed trans individuals
- "Great Replacement" conspiracy: shared white nationalist conspiracy theory content
- Climate change denial: dismissed climate science as a "scam"
- 5G conspiracy theories: linked 5G rollout to health risks
Carol Vorderman Criticism
Broadcaster Carol Vorderman publicly called Kenyon a "vile online abuser" and warned about Reform UK platforming him.
Social Media Ban
Kenyon was permanently banned from Twitter/X. His previous Reform UK account was also mysteriously suspended.
Polling
| Date | Pollster | Kenyon % | Burnham % | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 May | Survation / Sunday Times | 40% | 43% | LAB +3 |
Key Partnerships & Endorsements
- Simon Danczuk (ex-Labour MP): campaigning with Kenyon, predicting Reform win
- Zia Yusuf (Reform Home Affairs Spokesperson): joined Kenyon campaigning
- Sarah Pochin (Reform MP): campaigned with Kenyon
- Reform UK insists it is "fully backing" him despite controversies
What It Means
- Reform is running an aggressive campaign in a historically safe Labour seat
- The right-wing vote is splitting three ways (Reform 40%, Restore Britain 7%, Tory 2%) which could hand Burnham a narrow win despite Reform's strong ground game
- Reform won all 8 council wards in the May 2026 locals with ~50% of the vote — significant ground-level organisation
- Kenyon's controversies could cost Reform swing voters but may energise the base
Twitter/X Discussion
Source: Nitter search, May 2026
Kenyon is the second-most discussed candidate on Twitter after Burnham. Key themes:
- Fun fact widely shared: "If Robert Kenyon wins, he will be the only Reform MP who is not an ex-Tory" — this gets repeated constantly as both a positive and a criticism depending on the poster
- Abortion comments controversy: "So Robert Kenyon thinks that abortion is 'cowardly murder'. I think he is a total misogynist and such views belong in the last century. I hope Makerfield doesn't vote for this man." — widely shared
- Carol Vorderman remarks: "Robert Kenyon again, who used his social media to post graphic, creepy sexual remarks about Carol Vorderman and female rugby players" — his past social media is thoroughly trawled
- Richard Branson hanging comment: "Makerfield candidate Robert Kenyon publicly demanded business leaders like Richard Branson be hanged for accepting Covid furlough money" — viewed as extremist by critics
- Unsolicited dick pics allegation: Defended by his supporters who push back saying "that's related to Robert Kenyon how?" when the accusation is raised
- Veteran status: Supporters highlight "their candidate is a VETERAN. We stand together give him your VOTE" — his army background is a key campaign asset
- Branded "sex pest": Multiple accounts explicitly call him this, raising questions about whether this affects his vote share
- Tactical voting debate: Reform supporters argue Restore Britain is splitting the right-wing vote and costing Kenyon the seat
Reddit Discussion
On r/ukpolitics, Kenyon is heavily criticised — the abortion comments, Branson hanging comment, and Carol Vorderman remarks are all recurring topics in threads about Reform candidates. The "not an ex-Tory" fact is frequently noted as distinguishing him from other Reform MPs. Some users argue the criticism shows the left "cancelling" working-class candidates.
- BBC — Reform announces Robert Kenyon as candidate
- Byline Times — Kenyon's deleted tweet archives (419 tweets)
- The National — Reform candidate friends with fascist leader
- Reddit — Reform candidate calls abortion "cowardly murder"
- Manchester Evening News — Burnham by-election LIVE
- The Independent — By-election candidates