Robert Kenyon, the Reform UK candidate for the Makerfield by-election, finds himself under intense media scrutiny for controversial past comments made on social media, overshadowing his campaign to present himself as a local representative. Despite the glare, Mr Kenyon, 41, has refrained from issuing a full-throated apology for these remarks, instead offering explanations and context.

One widely criticized incident involved a retweet on Christmas Eve 2021 related to broadcaster Carol Vorderman. A user posted a vulgar comment about Ms Vorderman, to which another user questioned the public nature of such remarks. Mr Kenyon then replied, “He’s only saying what we’re all thinking Chris,” accompanied by laughing and thumbs-up emojis. When addressing this, Mr Kenyon stated, “I’m not a polished politician,” admitting he is “rough around the edges” and has “made mistakes.” He described the comment as a “crude attempt at a joke to probably about 50 followers,” insisting “no offence was meant, and it’s not something I’d do now.” He further suggested that similar, or worse, comments could be heard on any building site or public barracks, implying it was not a direct offense to Ms Vorderman.

Another significant controversy surfaced regarding comments Mr Kenyon made about the Manchester Arena bombing. In 2019, he praised President Trump and criticized Hillary Clinton, stating she was “one of the most dangerous and evil people to have walked this planet” and that she “created Isis and the instability in the Middle East with her foreign policy.” In a 2020 comment, he directly linked Clinton’s actions in Libya to the Manchester Arena bombing, saying, “Had she [Hillary Clinton] stayed out of Libya, the M.E.N. arena bombing wouldn’t have happened.” Reform UK has robustly defended these comments as “mainstream, entirely reasonable views,” echoing Nigel Farage’s opposition to Western interventions in Iraq and Syria, and arguing it is legitimate to link Middle Eastern instability to Western terrorist attacks. The party described the media attention as a “hysterical media witch-hunt against a decent local working-class man.”

Mr Kenyon embraces the persona of an “unpolished politician” or “white van man,” a narrative strongly supported by Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who dubbed him a “plucky plumber.” He highlights his local roots, emphasizing that he was born in Makerfield and would be the first MP from the constituency if elected. His background includes working as a self-employed plumber, an NHS specialist technician, and in the Army reserves. He criticizes “career politicians” disconnected from ordinary people, having become “politically homeless” before joining Reform UK due to perceived failures of other parties.

His campaign focuses on local issues, promising to advocate for a new hospital for Wigan, oppose greenbelt development, regenerate high streets in Ashton and Hindley, and support local campaigns like saving Ashton Library. He sees himself as “a man of the people” from a working-class background with a trade, aiming to improve Makerfield because he lives there with his family and friends, rather than using it as a “stepping stone” for a political career.

On national policy, Mr Kenyon showed initial unfamiliarity with Reform UK’s proposed ‘Great Repeal Bill’ and plans regarding the Equality Act. However, Reform UK later clarified their stances: the ‘Great Repeal Bill’ would ditch regulations like Labour’s employment legislation and the Renters’ Rights Act to foster economic growth. Regarding the Equality Act, Reform UK believes it has allowed for division through “diversity, equality and inclusion,” leading to perceived discrimination against groups like “white working-class boys.” They propose replacing it with a ‘Workplace Fairness Act’ to maintain existing protections against unfair discrimination, including for pregnancy and maternity.

Mr Kenyon also articulated Reform UK’s strong stance on immigration. While welcoming legal immigrants with specialist skills (doctors, brain surgeons, chemists, tradesmen) who contribute and integrate, he rigorously opposes “illegal immigration.” He cites the financial burden on taxpayers, potential security threats due to a lack of background checks, and the disproportionate use of areas like Makerfield for Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs) to house illegal immigrants, which he claims strains infrastructure and raises safety concerns for local families.

Facing the by-election, Mr Kenyon believes he can defeat Labour’s Andy Burnham, framing it as a “two-horse race” between Reform UK and Labour. He urges voters to avoid splitting the right-wing vote by supporting parties like Rupert Lowe’s Restore Britain, emphasizing that every vote matters. His past political endeavors include twice running for councillor for Reform, winning a seat in Bryn with Ashton-in-Makerfield North ward, and challenging Labour in the 2024 general election for Makerfield. Despite his controversial past, Mr Kenyon’s appeal hinges on his authenticity as a local, unpolished representative who understands the struggles of ordinary people, a message he hopes will resonate with enough voters to secure a victory.