Allegations of sexism have sparked controversy within Nigel Farage’s Reform Party following accusations against Robert Kenyon, the party’s candidate for Makerfield, for making derogatory remarks about women on social media.
Kenyon’s association with an online rugby fan forum from the 2010s revealed posts deeming female sports presenters inadequate for their roles, attributing their presence to mere tokenism. He also expressed sexist views implying that women who undergo abortions do so for superficial reasons.
In a now-deleted Twitter thread, Kenyon condemned abortion as a “cowardly act” and insinuated that women fabricate rape allegations to justify terminating a pregnancy. The Reform Party dismissed these comments as “casual banter” and defended them as matters of personal belief, raising concerns about the party’s stance on women’s rights under the leadership of Nigel Farage.
Responding to the sexism allegations, a spokesperson for the Reform Party asserted that Kenyon’s remarks, characterized as locker room talk, predate his political involvement by over a decade.
In a subsequent statement addressing Kenyon’s abortion views, the spokesperson emphasized his right to hold personal opinions on the matter, highlighting that abortion has historically been a subject of individual conscience across political affiliations in the UK.
Labour swiftly condemned the comments, accusing the Reform Party of endorsing a candidate with a track record of sexism and homophobia in the Makerfield constituency. The party criticized the normalization of such views within Reform’s ranks.
The controversy surrounding Kenyon’s remarks has further tarnished Reform’s reputation, given past instances of contentious statements by Nigel Farage and other party members regarding women. Farage, known for his association with Donald Trump, defended Trump’s controversial comments about women as harmless banter and alpha-male bravado in the past.
Furthermore, previous comments by Farage suggesting gender disparities in career aspirations have also sparked outrage. Additionally, Reform councillor Peter York faced criticism for making derogatory remarks about women’s roles during an event commemorating International Women’s Day, leading to potential breaches of the council’s code of conduct.
The council acknowledged the complaints, indicating a likely violation of the code of conduct by York. Remedial actions, including civ