Summary
Overview
The News Agents dive into the controversy surrounding Reform UK candidate Rob Kenyon in the Makerfield by-election, examining his history of sexist posts, transphobic slurs, and COVID misinformation. The episode also explores the emerging threat from the hard-right Restore party to Reform's dominance, Peter Murrell's guilty plea for embezzling SNP funds, and Tulsi Gabbard's resignation from Trump's cabinet amid the Iran crisis.
Rob Kenyon's Controversial Social Media History
Reform UK's candidate for Makerfield, Rob Kenyon, faces mounting scrutiny over disturbing social media posts where he described himself as sexist, shared transphobic content, and made deeply misogynistic comments about women and abortion. Campaign group Hope Not Hate uncovered posts including sexually explicit content directed at Carol Vorderman and statements attacking women's reproductive rights. Despite the revelations, Reform has defended Kenyon as an "ordinary man" and dismissed criticism as "Westminster Wokerati" attacks.
- Kenyon described himself as a sexist in social media posts and shared transphobic slurs and COVID misinformation
- His account shared sexually explicit content about Carol Vorderman, defending another user's graphic comments by saying 'he's only saying what we're all thinking'
- Kenyon attacked women seeking abortions, saying they 'want to shag anyone they want' and treat abortion as 'secondary last form of contraception'
- Reform's Richard Tice defended Kenyon, calling criticism 'Westminster Wokerati' and saying Makerfield wants 'real men'
" Transphobic slurs, Covid misinformation or sexism and the response you get back from reform is normally stop trying to make him sound like a normal politician. He's a lad. "
" I'm a sexist. That's what I am. "
" reproductive rights, women's rights, they can dress it up all they want. They're deciding to kill a baby inside the womb. What they mean is they want to shag anyone they want. "
The Brexit Contradiction and Political Identity Crisis
Adding to Reform's troubles, The Times revealed that Kenyon did not vote for Brexit in 2016, creating an awkward contradiction for a party built on Euroscepticism. Kenyon reportedly said he woke up "shitting myself" after the Brexit vote, positioning him as an unlikely Remainer in a supposedly pro-Brexit stronghold. This revelation complicates Reform's narrative about representing authentic working-class Brexit voters in Makerfield.
- The Times reported Kenyon said in 2019 that he did not vote for Brexit
- Kenyon stated: 'I woke up the day after Brexit shitting myself as to what was voted for'
- This creates a major credibility problem for Reform, a party founded on Euroscepticism
" anyone who thinks I love Trump voted Brexit is wrong. I woke up the day after Brexit shitting myself as to what was voted for. "
📚 6 more sections below
Sign up to unlock the complete summary with all insights, key points, and quotes
Get this summary + all future The News Agents episodes in your inbox
100% Free • Unsubscribe Anytime
Sign up now and we'll send you the complete summary of this episode, plus get notified when new The News Agents episodes are released—delivered straight to your inbox within minutes.