Full Breakdown
Social Media Links Spark Controversy for Reform UK Candidate in Makerfield By-Election
5/21/2026, 1:38:28 AM
Allegations Over Social Media Links
Searchlight alleges Reform UK candidate Robert Kenyon was a Facebook friend of far-right activist Gary Raikes on a page now deleted. The group also notes Kenyon’s X account was terminated in 2024. Reform UK confirms the friendship but says it does not endorse Raikes’s views. The party removed Kenyon’s Facebook page after his recent election as a local councillor.
Background & Context
Kenyon won a council seat earlier this month, activating Reform UK’s rule that elected officials keep a public-facing profile. The party called the deleted page a conventional Facebook profile and removed it accordingly. No details on the X termination have been released.
Timeline
Official Statements & Responses
Reform UK said Kenyon never spoke with Raikes and that a Facebook friendship does not constitute an endorsement. Nigel Farage defended Kenyon’s record and expressed confidence in his service. Labour’s spokesperson called the claims serious and deeply troubling and urged Farage to disclose knowledge. The Green Party positioned itself as an alternative to Labour; Restore Britain warned its candidate could cut Reform support.
Criticism & Opposition
Labour demanded Farage and Kenyon explain the Raikes connection, arguing voters need transparency and that the link may suggest extremist ties.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Reform UK admits the Facebook link but denies endorsement; no explanation has been given for the X termination, and the deleted page’s content remains unknown.
Verbatim Quotes
- “When he [Kenyon] campaigned here at the general election, hundreds of people joined as friends, and one of them turned out to be unsavoury.” — Nigel Farage, Reform UK Leader
- “Nigel Farage needs to urgently come clean on whether Reform were aware of his candidate's apparent fascist friends.” — Labour spokesperson, Labour Party
- “progressive parties need to recognise that the big threat to the country is a Reform-led govt. And in my view avoiding that will involve some give and take from everyone. Burnham must clearly set out his position on a fair voting system.” — Adrian Ramsay, Green Party MP
- “The party adds that Kenyon never spoke or was in touch with Raikes and being a Facebook friend "does not constitute an endorsement of his views".” — Reform UK statement
What’s Next
The Green Party will announce its candidate later this week, and Restore Britain’s entry adds another contesting force. The by-election will test whether the social-media controversy influences voter preferences in Makerfield.
