A candidate from the Reform party is facing criticism for expressing anti-abortion sentiments and making derogatory statements about women’s abilities. Robert Kenyon, the candidate contesting the Makerfield by-election, is being pressured to withdraw from the race following alleged remarks made on rugby league forums. The contentious comments, attributed to an account using the username ‘post’ that links to @robkenyon1 on Twitter and promotes Kenyon’s book, The Blood Waltz, include claims that women undergo abortions for superficial reasons.
In one post, the ‘post’ account suggested that women trivialize the decision to have an abortion, implying that it is used as a form of contraception after engaging in casual relationships. Another post insinuated that most abortions are conducted out of vanity. Moreover, comments from a now-deleted Twitter account linked to Kenyon asserted that life begins at conception and labeled abortion as a cowardly act of killing a defenseless baby.
Additional revelations from online forums in the 2010s indicated disparaging remarks towards English women regarding their appearance and capabilities. The user, believed to be Kenyon, made sexist comments about women’s physical attributes and their roles in society. Furthermore, there were derogatory comments about female sports presenters and belittling remarks about professional accomplishments.
Campaign group HopeNotHate reported the discovery of two accounts associated with Kenyon, with one account suspended by the platform. Allegations of inappropriate content also extended to lewd remarks about Carol Vorderman posted on a deleted account. Vorderman, a former Countdown star, demanded an apology from Kenyon.
The Labour party has condemned Kenyon’s behavior, with chair Anna Turley highlighting the importance of the election and contrasting Kenyon’s controversial statements with Andy Burnham’s positive track record and commitment to the community. In response, a spokesman for Reform UK defended Kenyon’s right to personal opinions on abortion, emphasizing his authenticity and suitability as a voice for ordinary citizens.
The situation surrounding Kenyon’s controversial statements has sparked intense debate and raised concerns about the candidate’s suitability for public office.