Former plumber Robert Kenyon is standing for Reform in an election which may determine whether or not Andy Burnham succeeds Keir Starmer as Prime Minister
Plumber Robert Kenyon hopes to get to work in Westminster (Picture: Tim Merry)
The Reform UK candidate who hopes to derail Andy Burnham’s ambitions to win the Makerfield by-election and change Sir Keir Starmer as Prime Minister has warned that native voters don’t need to be a “sideshow” in Labour’s “civil struggle”. Robert Kenyon, a plumber who took Nigel Farage’s occasion to second place within the constituency within the 2024 election, goals to construct on this month’s successes within the council contests and ship a non-Labour MP to Parliament for the primary time in Makerfield’s historical past.
The 41-year-old has discovered himself on the centre of a firestorm over previous social media posts. Tv presenter Carol Vorderman has demanded an apology after a message from 2021 surfaced. Mr Kenyon had responded to a submit by one other consumer who wished to carry out a lewd act on Ms Vorderman by saying: “He’s solely saying what we’re all pondering.”
Mr Kenyon mentioned: “It is a crass remark that I actually would not make at the moment.”
He mentioned it was a “crude” comment made to a small variety of followers and turned his weapons on Labour’s report in defending girls’s rights. Labour, he claimed, needed to be “dragged kicking and screaming” into having an inquiry into the grooming gangs scandal.
Robert Kenyon addresses previous social media posts
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Mr Kenyon has additionally been linked to a submit on an internet rugby discussion board within the 2010s which acknowledged girls can not “ref, drive or give instructions”.
He mentioned: “I am not a profession politician. I am not polished, I do not declare to be. I am actually not excellent. And all through my time, I might have mentioned issues that I might remorse now and would not say now.”
The would-be MP mentioned he had a “lot of respect for feminine rugby gamers and feminine refs” and that these have been “throwaway feedback”.
Nonetheless, he denied highly-publicised claims he might have voted Stay within the 2016 Brexit referendum.
“I’ve by no means been a Remainer,” he mentioned, including: “I used to be a UKIP voter and I put my religion in Nigel, and I voted to go away. And you recognize, it is a determination that I am glad we made as a result of we are able to make successful of it; it simply has to have the appropriate authorities in cost to make it successful.”
Mayor of Higher Manchester Mr Burnham and fellow potential management contender Wes Streeting have expressed hopes the UK will in the future rejoined the European Union. Mr Kenyon believes this election might be a “pivotal” second for Britain.
He mentioned: “I’ve acquired to be courageous, and I’ve acquired to place myself on the market… That’s one of many causes that I am getting myself out of my consolation zone and standing, as a result of I consider Reform UK is the very best path to take for the way forward for this nation.”
He had a pointy warning for Labour that folks have been sad to see their constituency dragged into the occasion’s succession battle.
He mentioned: “I believe they really feel a bit taken without any consideration – much more when individuals are simply kind of utilizing the constituency of Makerfield and the folks of Wigan as a pawn in [a] Labour civil struggle.”
The by-election was triggered this month after sitting MP Josh Simons introduced he was quitting Parliament so “Andy Burnham can return to his dwelling”.
Mr Kenyon warned Proper-leaning voters in opposition to giving their assist to rival occasion Restore Britain, which has been championed on-line by house and tech entrepreneur Elon Musk.
The Reform candidate argued the competition is a “two-horse race” and “in the event that they do vote Restore, it is a vote for Labour”.
Robert Kenyon within the Makerfield constituency (Picture: Tim Merry)
The Inexperienced Social gathering is difficult Labour from the Left and has introduced that Sarah Wakefield, a Manchester Metropolis Council councillor, will combat the seat – changing an earlier candidate who withdrew.
Steve Austin, a 72-year-old former plumber, was delighted to see Mr Kenyon standing in Makerfield.
He mentioned the world had “modified fully” for the reason that days when it was dominated by the coal business and it was time for a “fully completely different” occasion to signify the constituency.
“Let any individual else have a go,” he mentioned.
Nonetheless, Gordon Summers, an 83-year-old constituent, mentioned he was “all for” Mr Burnham turning into prime minister.
He mentioned: “I imply, he is carried out nice in Manchester.”
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