Makerfield By-Election: Reform UK’s Defeat and Candidate Controversy

Reform UK entered the Makerfield by-election on 19 June 2026 aiming to turn a demographically favourable seat into a breakthrough against Labour’s Andy Burnham. Candidate Robert Kenyon, a local plumber and councillor, came under scrutiny after a decade-old series of sexist, misogynistic and transphobic social-media posts were unearthed. Women voters said the material put them off, and TV presenter Carol Vorderman demanded an apology for a graphic sexual comment about her. Reform advised Kenyon not to apologise, calling the posts locker-room banter. The far-right Restore UK, amplified online by Elon Musk, received just under 7 % of the vote. Reform fell short of its 18,000-vote target, securing 15,696 and finishing more than 9,000 votes behind Burnham.

The Guardian

Andy Burnham won with roughly 55 % of the vote. Reform UK obtained 15,696 votes, while Restore UK captured just under 7 % of the total. The margin between Burnham and Reform exceeded 9,000 votes.

The Guardian

Reform UK defended Kenyon, describing the offensive posts as locker-room banter from before his political career and emphasizing his straight-talking appeal to working-class voters. A party spokesperson said the party remains confident in Kenyon’s suitability for Parliament. Nigel Farage, in a video on X, urged former Restore supporters to back Reform, calling it the only viable contender on the right and describing the outcome as a decisive victory for Andy Burnham. He acknowledged the Vorderman controversy had hurt the campaign. After the loss, Reform signalled a shift toward harder-right migration policies, proposing to bar EU nationals with settled status from social housing and to raise employment costs for firms hiring them.

The Guardian

Labour chair Anna Turley condemned Kenyon’s remarks as “degrading and completely unacceptable”, calling him “unfit to be the next MP for Makerfield”. Women voters said the sexist content deterred them. Carol Vorderman called him a misogynist and demanded an apology. Reform activists noted the party’s decision not to apologise drew further criticism.

The Guardian

• “I would say directly to them: what do you want? We are the challenger party to the left in this country, and I would urge you to think again, I really, really would.” — Nigel Farage, Reform UK leader

The Guardian

• “Fundamentally, Rob Kenyon is a misogynist.” — Carol Vorderman, TV presenter

The Independent

• “I’m sexist, sorry but I am.” — Robert Kenyon, social-media post

The Independent

• “We fully back Cllr Kenyon. He is an excellent, local candidate who we are confident will be a superb MP for Makerfield.” — Reform UK spokesperson

The Independent

Sources differ on the exact vote share for Restore UK, describing it only as “just under 7 %” and noting that forecasts had predicted a higher figure. No data are provided on how many former Restore voters switched to Reform.

The Guardian

Reform UK says it will continue campaigning ahead of by-elections and the next general election, while its leadership indicates a further move toward hard-right policy positions and plans to review candidate vetting procedures to avoid similar controversies.

The Guardian