In a recent development, the Reform Party’s candidate for an upcoming by-election is facing backlash for expressing controversial views on abortion and women’s capabilities. Robert Kenyon, the candidate in question, is under scrutiny for statements attributed to him on rugby league forums, where he allegedly made remarks suggesting that women undergo abortions for superficial reasons.
These allegations have intensified pressure on Nigel Farage’s party to reconsider Kenyon’s candidacy as he competes against Andy Burnham for the Makerfield seat. The contentious comments were reportedly posted by an account named ‘post’ on a rugby league forum, which claimed to be associated with Kenyon’s Twitter handle and promoted his book, The Blood Waltz.
The ‘post’ account’s tweets insinuated that women trivialize the decision to have an abortion, portraying it as a casual choice. Kenyon, under the same account, was quoted as stating that abortions are often sought for reasons of vanity. Furthermore, comments attributed to Kenyon on a now-deleted Twitter account asserted firm anti-abortion beliefs, labeling the act as cowardly and equating it to murdering a defenseless child.
Additionally, reports suggest that Kenyon, on an online rugby fan forum in the past decade, made disparaging remarks about English women’s appearance and abilities, expressing sexist views. The candidate allegedly made derogatory comments about women in various contexts, including discussions about their physical appearance and professional capabilities.
Amidst these controversies, campaigning group HopeNotHate claims to have unearthed multiple online accounts linked to Kenyon, one of which has been suspended by the platform. Furthermore, Kenyon is facing criticism for lewd remarks directed at Carol Vorderman on a deleted online account, prompting a demand for an apology from the Reform Party’s candidate by the former Countdown star.
Opposition parties have condemned Kenyon’s behavior, with Labour party chair Anna Turley highlighting the severity of the issue and contrasting Kenyon’s controversial remarks with Andy Burnham’s commendable track record and commitment to the local community.
Responding to the allegations, a spokesperson for Reform UK defended Kenyon’s right to hold personal opinions on abortion, emphasizing that such views were expressed before his involvement in politics. The spokesperson portrayed Kenyon as a candid and relatable figure, positioned to represent the interests of ordinary working individuals in Makerfield.
