Robert Kenyon is not a polished professional. He is a plumber, a local councillor, and now, the Reform UK candidate for the Makerfield by-election. He is also the latest politician to find his digital history under the microscope.

As the June 18 vote approaches, a series of unearthed social media posts has forced Kenyon to defend his past. The comments, discovered on defunct forums and social media platforms, touch on everything from Brexit to sexually graphic remarks about public figures. Kenyon has acknowledged the posts, labeling them "crass," but insists they do not reflect his current priorities.

The Digital Paper Trail

Among the most prominent controversies is a response Kenyon made to a sexually graphic post about TV presenter Carol Vorderman. Kenyon replied with a thumbs-up emoji and the comment, "He's only saying what we're all thinking." Vorderman has since demanded an apology.

Kenyon denies making sexual remarks himself. He characterizes his involvement as responding to another user's post with a "crass joke."

"There might have been a few crass comments that I've said," Kenyon told the BBC. "But I wouldn't make any crass comments now because everything you do say is under a microscope."

Other unearthed comments present a different kind of challenge. On a rugby league forum, Kenyon once described Brexit as an economically damaging project driven by politicians who "peddled the nationalistic pish." When confronted with these remarks, Kenyon insisted he had voted for Brexit. He claimed to have "no recollection" of writing the post.

A High-Stakes By-Election

The Makerfield by-election was triggered by the resignation of former Labour MP Josh Simons. The seat is now a battleground. Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham is attempting to secure the constituency and return to Westminster. For Reform UK, the race is a test of their ability to capture local support in a traditional Labour stronghold.

Kenyon argues that his background as a "local lad" gives him an edge over career politicians. He claims voters in Makerfield have been ignored for four decades. He wants to be their voice.

"Once you're being paid by the public purse to represent them, you've got a duty to behave in a certain way," Kenyon said. He maintains that his past tweets are a distraction from the real issues.

The Party’s Stance

Reform UK has opted not to launch an internal investigation into the candidate. The party is standing by him.

Kenyon, for his part, is pivoting back to policy. He is focusing his campaign on Labour's positions regarding grooming gangs and transgender rights. He believes these issues are more significant than his old social media activity.

"I don't think the Labour Party know what a woman is," Kenyon said. "I think that's a bit more dangerous than a few 10-year-old tweets."

Key Takeaways

  • Robert Kenyon, the Reform UK candidate for Makerfield, has admitted to making "crass" comments online prior to his entry into politics.
  • The controversy includes a response to a graphic post about Carol Vorderman and past criticism of the Brexit project, which Kenyon now claims he supported.
  • Reform UK has confirmed it has no plans to investigate the candidate, who argues that his local roots are more important to voters than his digital history.

With the election just days away, the focus now shifts to the voters. Whether they prioritize a candidate's past digital footprint or his promise of local representation remains to be seen. The result will be clear on June 18.