REFORM UK have defended a by-election candidate who called abortion a “cowardly act of murdering a defenceless baby” and suggested that women lie about being raped to justify it.
Robert Kenyon, who is standing against Labour’s Andy Burnham in the Makerfield by-election, made the comments on now-closed down social media accounts, The Observer reported.
In one post made in response to comedian John Cleese, Kenyon said: “Don’t dole out the ‘what if someone is raped by their brother’ arguement [sic]. Life begins at conception.
“Abortion is the cowardly act of murdering a defenceless baby and not having to face up to it cause a Dr did it. They don’t want babies? Use contreception! [sic]”.
A Reform UK spokesperson defended Kenyon, saying he is “perfectly entitled to his own personal opinions on abortion”.
“In this country, this issue has always been a matter of conscience, regardless of which party a politician represents,” they added.
Kenyon had two accounts on Twitter/X which are now defunct. One he deleted, while the other was suspended by the platform for breaking its rules, though it is unclear how.
He had promoted anti-vaccine conspiracy theories, Hope Not Hate reported, including telling people to “take vitimins [sic]” and “stop having boosters”, and responding to chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty’s advice with “He can fuck right off”.
Hope Not Hate further reported that Kenyon had said that Richard Branson and other businesspeople should be hanged for accepting lockdown furlough money, and defended someone who had told broadcaster Carol Vorderman their vulgar sexual wishes involving her by claiming it is "what we're all thinking".
Vorderman responded on Instagram by saying: "Fundamentally, Rob Kenyon is a cowardly misogynist. I wouldn’t let him in my house if he was a local plumber in my area, not with what he’s been posting online. There is always a pattern."
Kenyon also had a Facebook account which he said he was “moth balling” just days before he was confirmed as the Reform candidate in Makerfield. As The National previously reported, that Facebook account had been “friends” with the neo-fascist leader of the New British Union, Gary Raikes.
The Observer reported that the account had also been “friends” with BNP members Alex Eversfield and Robert Baggs.
Previously, Reform also defended their candidate’s Facebook links to the neo-fascists.
"A Facebook friend does not constitute an endorsement of his views,” Reform UK spokesperson said. "Robert Kenyon is a brilliant candidate and we are proud to have him represent the party. British politics needs more real people involved like Robert."
The Makerfield by-election is widely expected to be a two-horse race between Kenyon for Reform and Burnham for Labour.
A Survation poll of voters in the constituency suggested Labour had a small three-point lead over Reform (43% to 40%), however the far-right Restore Britain party polled in third place on 7%.
