Full Breakdown
Reform UK Candidate Robert Kenyon Under Scrutiny for Recent Controversial Social Media Activity in the UK 2024 politics
5/29/2026, 8:47:48 PM
Controversial Posts and Platform Deletion
In 2024, a social-media account run by Reform UK parliamentary candidate Robert Kenyon was terminated by platform X; the reason for the removal has not been disclosed. Screenshots released by the anti-extremism group Hope Not Hate show Kenyon interacting with Peter Imanuelsen, who posts as Peter Sweden on X. Imanuelsen has been accused of Holocaust minimisation and denial, a characterization he rejects. Deleted posts from Kenyon’s account include an abortion-related statement calling it a “cowardly act of murdering a defenceless baby” and a claim that some women falsely allege rape to obtain abortions.
Background and Candidate Connections
When Kenyon first contested the Makerfield by-election, the watchdog group Searchlight identified him as one of 41 Reform candidates who were listed as friends with Gary Raikes on a now-deleted Facebook page. Raikes is a former member of the far-right British National Party. Reform UK has publicly denied any substantive link between Kenyon and Raikes.
Key Figures
Robert Kenyon is the Reform UK candidate at the centre of the controversy. Peter Imanuelsen (Peter Sweden) is the X user linked to Holocaust-denial accusations. Gary Raikes is the ex-BNP member whose Facebook friendship with Kenyon was highlighted. Broadcaster Carol Vorderman was the target of a widely criticised tweet. Former Labour Deputy Leader Angela Rayner publicly condemned Kenyon’s remarks as misogynistic. Hope Not Hate and Searchlight are the advocacy groups that released the screenshots and the Facebook-friend analysis.
Official Statements & Responses
Reform UK said Kenyon had no direct contact with Gary Raikes and that, after learning of Raikes’s extremist background, Kenyon deleted the connection from his Facebook. Carol Vorderman said Kenyon’s remarks about her were disgusting and demanded an apology. Angela Rayner said the episode amounted to misogynistic abuse directed at Vorderman.
Criticism & Opposition
Hope Not Hate’s release of screenshots highlights Kenyon’s interaction with a user accused of Holocaust denial. Searchlight’s identification of the Facebook friendship network frames the issue as part of a broader pattern of far-right associations among Reform candidates. Both groups call for tighter vetting of party candidates.
Verbatim Quotes
- “cowardly act of murdering a defenceless baby” — Robert Kenyon, deleted X post
- “disgusting comments” — Carol Vorderman, public demand for apology
- “misogynistic abuse.” — Angela Rayner, statement on Kenyon’s conduct
- “spoken or engaged with” — Reform UK spokesperson, response to Raikes link
- “removed him from his Facebook immediately.” — Reform UK spokesperson, response to Raikes link
