Reform UK candidate admits 'crass' past comments ahead of by-election

Reform UK's candidate in the Makerfield by-election has admitted making "crass" comments online, after scrutiny of his past posts during the campaign.

Robert Kenyon has faced criticism over previous online comments about various issues, including his position on Brexit, abortion and Ukraine.

In an interview with the BBC, Robert Kenyon said the comments, which have been unearthed by newspapers and campaign groups, were made before he entered politics.

Reform UK has backed Kenyon and said the party said it had no plans to investigate him over his previous comments.

Kenyon is one of fourteen candidates contesting the by-election in the Greater Manchester constituency on Thursday 18 June.

The by-election was triggered by the resignation of former Makerfield MP Josh Simons, who stood down to pave the way for Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to attempt to win the seat and return to Westminster.

The vote is expected to be a race between Burnham and Kenyon, a plumber and local councillor.

Speaking to the BBC at a pub in the constituency, Kenyon said he was not a "career politician" and people would "feel listened to" if he became the MP.

He said if elected "people would feel like they had a voice now, whereas in the last 40 years they've not".

He added that people wanted a "local lad" to represent them, who lives in and knows the area, and "knows the people and is well in tune with that".

In the interview, he said he was "not a polished professional" when he was asked about concerns over his previous use of social media.

In comments unearthed on a defunct rugby league forum online, Kenyon described Brexit as an economically damaging project promoted by politicians who "peddled the nationalistic pish".

When asked about those comments, Kenyon insisted he had voted for Brexit, and said he had "no recollection of saying that".

He was also asked about comments he made in relation to TV presenter Carol Vorderman.

Vorderman has said she wants an apology after Kenyon responded to a sexually graphic post about the TV presenter with a thumbs up and laughing emoji and a comment saying "He's only saying what we're all thinking".

Kenyon said he had "not made sexual remarks about Carol Vorderman", but had responded to someone else's post with a "crass joke".

"There might have been a few crass comments that I've said," he added.

But he added that he was more worried about Labour's positions on various issues, including grooming gangs and the rights of transgender people.

"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."

Kenyon, who was elected as a Reform UK councillor for the Bryn with Ashton-in-Makerfield North ward in last month's local elections, said he "wouldn't make any crass comments" now "because everything you do say is under a microscope".