Reform UK’s candidate in the Makerfield by-election has been labelled “not fit to be an MP” after further controversial online comments emerged. Robert Kenyon, who is running against Labour’s Andy Burnham, is accused of making “degrading” remarks about TV anchor Emma Crosby and girl band The Saturdays, among others.
Lewd remarks on rugby forum
Posting on an online rugby fan forum in the 2010s under the username ‘post’, Kenyon wrote: “The Saturdays in nothing but a pair of Wigan home socks at the bottom of me bed. 2:D Alrilligghhhhttill Giggety giggetty”. The phrase “Giggity giggity” is a catchphrase from the TV show Family Guy, used to indicate sexual desire. He also mentioned “a picture of the Saturdays wearing nothing but her birthday suits”.
In other posts, he commented on Emma Crosby: “Sorry Ernie She's fit off GMTV, that new one Emma Crosby”, adding that he was “getting a hardwang never mind a wetwang”. He also wrote “Jessica Ennis……shwing!”, referencing the 90s comedy Wayne’s World, and described singer Diana Vickers as “shocking at singing”, saying she “sounds like an asthmatic yorkshire terrier trying to shift a bit of phlegm”.
Comments on rugby player
The user compared former Wigan Warriors player Feka Paleaaesina to a “nice girlfriend who has put a bit of weight on” and said “you just don’t love them”, adding: “We have had some good memories of Feka but now he is like a nice girlfreind who has put a bit of weight on and you just don’t love them so it's bye bye.”
The account also promoted Kenyon’s book, The Blood Waltz, and linked to his Twitter handle @robkenyon1. These are the latest in a series of controversial remarks. Previous messages showed him interacting with far-right figures and making sexual comments about Carol Vorderman. Last week, The Independent revealed an account linked to Kenyon wrote that women can’t “ref, drive or give directions” and declared: “I’m sexist, sorry but I am.”
Labour and Reform responses
Labour chair Anna Turley condemned the remarks, saying: “Robert Kenyon clearly has a problem with women. It’s staggering that Reform try and shrug comments like this off as locker room talk. It’s not – it’s degrading and completely unacceptable. He is completely unfit to be the next MP for Makerfield.”
A Reform UK spokesperson dismissed the comments as “locker room banter”, adding: “Cllr Kenyon made these comments before entering politics. We are confident that he is an excellent candidate who will be a superb local MP for Makerfield. 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.”
The spokesperson also questioned Labour’s candidate, saying: “Anna Turley should ask herself what presents a bigger threat to women: tongue-in-cheek online comments, or her candidate who supports allowing men in women’s-only spaces.” The by-election is scheduled for 18 June.
