The man who is leading Reform UK’s preparation for government has said he is ‘not going to defend’ social media comments allegedly made by the party’s candidate in Makerfield, plumber and newly-elected Wigan councillor, Rob Kenyon.Concerns about Coun Kenyon’s social media use were first raised after he was announced as Reform’s candidate, when it emerged an X account believed to be his had been suspended. Campaign group Hope Not Hate has now reported on a second account on the platform, formerly known as Twitter, which has since been deleted.It says Coun Kenyon allegedly made misogynistic posts, a transphobic post and remarks about Covid conspiracy theories.During an interview on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, East Wiltshire MP Danny Kruger said:
It is clearly wrong for politicians to talk in that way. He was not a politician at the time. He was an ordinary man, from an ordinary place. And what he has done now is to step forward, outraged at the state of our country and the state of his community.”
Pressed further, he said: “I’m not going to defend those comments, but please can you acknowledge there are other concerns at play here….”Adding:
I’m not going to sit here and police the previous remarks, unacceptable as they may be, of people who as private citizens said things they shouldn’t. There is a bigger story here. I recognise, I’m not going to diminish the importance of that, but if I may, the real challenge for our country is to get our economy moving, to secure our borders, to give opportunities to young people and to rescue places like Makerfield from an economic model that isn’t working.”
Reform have previously said they ‘fully back’ Mr Kenyon. A spokesperson told the BBC: “He is an excellent, local candidate who we are confident will be a superb MP for Makerfield. These comments were made before he was in politics.”Rob isn’t a polished, professional politician and doesn’t speak like one. That’s precisely why he’ll be a straight-talking, effective voice for normal working people in Makerfield.”