# 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](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq6pver77gpo) - [Byline Times — Kenyon's deleted tweet archives (419 tweets)](https://bylinetimes.com) - [The National — Reform candidate friends with fascist leader](https://www.thenational.scot/news/26122271.reform-uk-makerfield-election-candidate-friends-fascist-leader/) - [Reddit — Reform candidate calls abortion "cowardly murder"](https://www.reddit.com/r/unitedkingdom/comments/1tm6w2r/reform_candidate_for_makerfield_byelection_calls/) - [Manchester Evening News — Burnham by-election LIVE](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/andy-burnham-makerfield-election-live-33960781) - [The Independent — By-election candidates](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/andy-burnham-makerfield-byelection-campaign-launch-b2726171.html)