A candidate running in the by-election for Reform is facing allegations of homophobia due to comments made on an account associated with him, referring to gay men in derogatory terms. Robert Kenyon, who is competing against Labour’s Andy Burnham in Makerfield, reportedly made these remarks on a former rugby league forum called RLFans.
Concerns were raised about Kenyon’s online presence, with archived posts under the username ‘post’ linked to him, mentioning his now-deleted handle @robkenyon1 and promoting his book, the Blood Waltz. In one post from 2009, he made a derogatory comment about the LGBTQ+ community, while in another from the following year, he criticized the representation of gay individuals in mainstream media.
In 2020, another post attributed to Kenyon expressed disapproval of a rugby club celebrating ‘Pride Day’, stating that such issues should not be forced upon children. The candidate also faced backlash for comments suggesting that the LGBTQ+ community seeks undue attention and acceptance.
Labour chair Anna Turley condemned Kenyon’s remarks, calling his comments divisive. However, a spokesperson for Reform UK defended Kenyon, stating that the comments were made nearly two decades ago and do not reflect his current views.
Kenyon has also come under scrutiny for controversial statements on abortion and Brexit. Allegedly, he made insensitive remarks about women’s reproductive rights, implying that abortions are often sought for superficial reasons. Additionally, he confirmed his support for Brexit, contrasting his stance with Burnham’s position on EU matters.
Despite the controversies surrounding Kenyon, Reform UK has stood by him, dismissing calls to withdraw support for his candidacy in the critical Makerfield by-election. The ongoing scrutiny over Kenyon’s past statements has raised concerns about his suitability to represent the constituency.
