Reform UK’s candidate for the Makerfield by-election has stirred controversy by expressing opinions supporting Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014. Robert Kenyon, the Reform UK candidate challenging Labour’s Andy Burnham in the Greater Manchester constituency, was found to have agreed with a social media post characterizing Moscow’s actions in Crimea as “democracy in action.”

The remarks made by Kenyon, a plumber, resurfaced from an online forum exchange in March 2014. In response to a discussion about Crimea’s desire to join Russia, Kenyon stated that Russia was justified in its actions, drawing parallels to the Falklands situation and questioning the potential future actions in Latvia.

Following the annexation of Crimea, over 100,000 Ukrainians fled the region as the Kremlin cracked down on dissenting voices. Kenyon’s controversial statements extend beyond geopolitics, as he has also faced criticism for making offensive comments about women, including supporting a sexually explicit tweet about Carol Vorderman.

The Reform UK candidate has also faced scrutiny for past comments on various topics, such as questioning Nigel Farage’s association with Donald Trump and admitting to not voting in the Brexit referendum. In response to the backlash, a defence minister criticized Kenyon for aligning with Kremlin viewpoints and being out of touch with the British public.

In a separate development, a group of MPs has called for an investigation into Reform UK over allegations of Islamophobia. The party has been accused of breaching the Equality Act, prompting concerns from several Labour MPs and an independent former Labour MP.

A spokesperson for Reform UK defended Kenyon, stating that his comments predated his political career and emphasized his opposition to Russia’s actions in Ukraine. The party expressed confidence in Kenyon’s candidacy and his potential as a Member of Parliament for Makerfield.