Story perspectives

Women Split Over Reform's Kenyon Amid Makerfield By-Election

6/7/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Women voters in Orrell are split over Reform UK candidate Robert Kenyon after his remarks about women resurfaced.
Kenyon will contest the Makerfield by-election on June 18, 2026, against Labour’s Andy Burnham.
He called the posts “squaddie humour” and said they were banter, labeling the race a “win-win”.
Amanda Butler said a Carol Vorderman letter turned her away from Reform.
Green-belt worries are drawing voters such as Valerie Mills toward the party.

History

Historical Context

The UK Parliament enacted the Sex Discrimination Act on 29 December 1975, extending the 1970 Equal Pay Act’s ban on sex-based bias and creating the Equal Opportunities Commission to enforce it. The Act was later absorbed into the Equality Act 2010. Reform UK candidate Robert Kenyon’s sexist remarks in the recent Orrell contest revive the rhetoric the 1975 law was designed to suppress, showing the statute’s lasting electoral relevance.

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Story summary

Women voters in Orrell are split over Reform UK candidate Robert Kenyon after his remarks about women resurfaced.
Kenyon will contest the Makerfield by-election on June 18, 2026, against Labour’s Andy Burnham.
He called the posts “squaddie humour” and said they were banter, labeling the race a “win-win”.
Amanda Butler said a Carol Vorderman letter turned her away from Reform.
Green-belt worries are drawing voters such as Valerie Mills toward the party.

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