Robert Kenyon, Reform's candidate for Makerfield. Would you let him in your house?

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Oldnproud

I was wondering: is there any proof that Kenyon was actually working as a plumber before registering his company three months ago? Or since?

Ther's this video of him driving Farage around and talking about his life.

www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2079774469603713

Between this and various things he had written about himself online, he has had a variety of jobs including a business failure in 2010, Not sure what it was and why. He mentions the recession and having to go to Leeds for work.

He says he has worked in bars, in a bookies, for a scaffolding company, has said (not in the video) that he has been in the army and worked for the NHS during the pandemic.

He says he has gone "limited" as a company as he doesn't want to make quarterly returns which sole traders turning over more than £50,000 a year now have to do under Making Tax Digital

It makes me think he wouldn't enjoy the amount of paperwork a constituency MP has to wade through - although if he is using Farage as a yardstick then he probably doesn't realise there is any.

He sounds rather naive to me about what being an MP entails.

Thanks for the video. For some reason, I couldn't get sound, but was able read the subtitles.

I am probably being unreasonably suspicious, but there is something about this (apart from Farage being the one promoting him!) that doesn't feel right.

If I had to guess, I would say that Kenyan most likely has done some work at some point that could loosely fall under the umbrella of plumbing', but not to anything like the degree that they are aiming to make the electorate believe.

But exaggeration / embellishment and even outright lies seem to be common in politics, not just limited to Reform, so most likely there will be little if any fallout if this man's 'story' turns out to be little more than a work of fiction.

Thanks, Nanalot all is clear now. However, it does demonstrate the real problem that we have with such vile misogyny, doesn't it. Kenyon's comments were absolutely disgusting yet men (and some women) will defend him and worse still vote for him. It beggars belief!

I am probably being unreasonably suspicious, but there is something about this (apart from Farage being the one promoting him!) that doesn't feel right.

I agree.

Much is being made of the fact that he has a very clean and tidy plain white van, what looks like a brand new Stanley tool box and brand new tools. Now a plain van could be choice for security purposes but equally, it doesn’t advertise his business which appears to be new or newish and one might suppose he would want to. In 50 years as a householder I have never had a plumber of gas engineer who didn’t arrive in a logoed van.

His website for his business Makerfield Heating is (or should I say was) clearly a quickly knocked up and incomplete job using Wix. Most of the menu options were not completed and the front page was just generic template stuff.

I say was because it was there yesterday and is now gone - saying the domain name is not connected to a website. Hmm.

Google reviews for the business only go back six months. I don’t think dates can be faked.

My gut feeling is that he was working for someone else until six months ago. In the video with Farage I think he says his brother in law is in the same line of work. I see that there is another firm called TwinSun Heating operating from the same business address as Makerfield Heating whose last accounts say they employ two people.

So while he is registered as a gas engineer something seems not quite right about the business side of things. Reform are not letting him speak to the press so one can’t help but wonder what they are trying to conceal.

This is from Makerfield Heating's profile om "mybuilder.com":

"Makerfield Heating is a trusted heating and plumbing company based in Wigan, providing expert boiler installations, servicing, and repairs across the North West. With 22 years of experience and Gas Safe registered engineers, we pride ourselves on reliable workmanship, honest pricing, and exceptional customer service—keeping local homes warm and energy-efficient all year round.

I have 22 years experience as a Gas Engineer and I've just left British Gas after 5 years to set up my own company."

There's a picture of Rob Kenyon on the profile.

So he used to be a gas engineer, who worked for British Gas (why not mention it?) and has been self-employed since February. He mentions "we", so who are the other people?

Nandalot

On Facebook, I saw a post commenting on Kenyon. The tirade of abusive comments about her that followed the post was unbelievable. I hope they were bots because I would not like to think there are that many vile people. There was very, very few supportive posts.

Of course, there is a possibility that the abusive posts came from a bot farm. It's very common on social media. The leader of Reform has plenty of money with which to pay for bot posts....

None of this changes the vile comments.

MaizieD

Nandalot

On Facebook, I saw a post commenting on Kenyon. The tirade of abusive comments about her that followed the post was unbelievable. I hope they were bots because I would not like to think there are that many vile people. There was very, very few supportive posts.

Of course, there is a possibility that the abusive posts came from a bot farm. It's very common on social media. The leader of Reform has plenty of money with which to pay for bot posts....

I don't think so. I've seen the originals on Wayback Machine and they don't look like bot comments. You can usually tell because there's no real interaction with other posters on the thread.

PS. Actually I'm a bit confused about the abusive posts Nandalot is referring to.

Galaxy

Streeting has some lovely tweets about pushing women under trains.

Streeting tweeted a comment that he would like to push Daily Mail columnist Jan Moir under a bust in response to her article she published:

Wikipedia extract for Jan Moir:
"In October 2009, Moir wrote an article about Boyzone singer Stephen Gately's death, arguing that his death was not of natural causes, despite this being the conclusion of the coroner's report, and linking his death to his sexuality and same-sex civil partnership. The article was published in the Daily Mail six days after the singer's death, before his funeral. The article provoked much criticism,[6] with Guardian columnist Charlie Brooker, for example, describing her article as "a gratuitous piece of gay-bashing" and urging readers to contact the Press Complaints Commission.[7] After receiving a record number of complaints, the PCC announced that it would investigate.[8][9] On 6 November 2009, Moir was awarded the Stonewall Bigot of the Year Award jointly with Father John Owen.[10]

On 17 February 2010, the Press Complaints Commission, whose chairman at the time was Paul Dacre, the editor of the Daily Mail, confirmed that although it was "uncomfortable with the tenor of the columnist's remarks", it would not uphold the complaints made. The Crown Prosecution Service also concluded that there was insufficient evidence that the article had breached the law.[11] In an interview on the BBC Radio's Today programme, PCC chairwoman Baroness Buscombe said the commission found the article "in many areas extremely distasteful" but that the Daily Mail had escaped censure because it "just failed to cross the line".[12]"

In 2009 Streeting was not in politics and was president of the National Union of students. He apologised for the tweet- and his sounding off about Moir's bigoted article.

Kenyon's recent and not so recent on line comments, that have come to light are just vile. Simply vile. No I would not want him in my house- I would feel very uncomfortable.

I wouldn’t let him near me road! He’s disgusting and vile!

Kenyon's online comments are multiple and highlight his racist and misogynistic beliefs. He has made no public apology as far as I'm aware or said that his belief and values system has changed in any way.

His Reform UK colleagues seem to be dismissive about it.

Right wing newspapers, such as the Telegraph dig up any historical comments like Streeting's one tweet in 2009, as some kind of comparison to deflect and minimise the comments made by Kenyon and Reform UK colleagues. There's little comparison....

I think ANYONE, and everyone working in any capacity should have their social media investigated before they are appointed, put forward or elected.

It doesn’t matter which political party, it doesn’t matter whether it was before or after or during a political career.

They are there to serve the public. They should strive to be as whiter than white as they can possibly be.

Each vile and awful tweet, Facebook or Instagram post should be scrutinised and publicised and the person responsible given the opportunity to “make their explanations”

This has gone on for far too long and gone too far.

Kenyon has also said that women make up allegations of rape so that they can get an abortion! Really, he really thinks that???

I absolutely agree Cossy then all is transparent. Investigated and published.

Streeting's tweet about Jan Moir is included in Wikipedia- he's never sought to hide it.

Kenyon does not yet have a Wikipedia page and has deleted his and gone quiet. Kenyon's X account has been suspended though his "crime" is not known. Bearing in mind Musk if right wing it must be something egregious. Reform UK is also fairly silent on the matter, whatever vetting was or was not completed.

Would that politicians, even when students, were whiter than white- I doubt that will ever happen. But at least we would get to see the history- any pattern of repetition, type and extent of pejorative comments.

foxie48

Kenyon has also said that women make up allegations of rape so that they can get an abortion! Really, he really thinks that???

Kenyon wants to ban abortions apparently. Abhorrent.

I've seen that now on MyBuilder, twaddle.

The reviews go back to November 2025 so that could/would be when he went out on his own. If he worked for BG for five years that goes back to say November 2020.

During the 2024 GE campaign he said he had worked for the NHS as a specialist technican for six years including all through the pandemic. Centrica do big contract work for the NHS on heating systems so it could be that.

There's still a gap though between 2010 when he said he had a business that failed and when he worked for NHS/(Centrica)/BG whichever it was so perhaps he had another employer before that.

While I loathe his social media behaviour I can't help thinking that he's being set up and used by Farage as part of his "man of the people" act. I feel sorry for his wife and family having his tawdry behaviour out there for all to see.

From what I have heard and seen, were he to win, I can't see him thriving or even surviving Westminster. He'd be another James McMurdock, just tagging along with the big names and completely out of his depth, as we are seeing with so many of the new councillors. Some people can blag their way through; Lee Anderson has for over six years, but they are only ever making up the numbers and add little to the serious work of Parliament.

twaddle

Galaxy

But there was zero uproar when Streetings tweets came out, and zero concern about whether the labour party supported misogyny by appointing him to a cabinet role.

Distraction from the issue.

You've confirmed that you support misogyny.

You have to be joking, and it's a very poor one! Galaxy is absolutely no supporter of misogyny, and will call it out whenever and wherever she sees it. Her disdain for the reaction, or lack thereof, to Streeting's tweet "confirms her misogyny" is an outrageous slur.

Thank you for your research, Graphite and twaddle. I have only had time to dip in and out on here today, so appreciate your finding out these things.

Curiouser and curiouser, as Alice said.

I don't want or need to read disgusting remarks made by Kenyon to know I'd not vote for him in a million years. I also will not be putting any plumbing work his way, which I doubt will cause him one moment's concern.

Rosie51

twaddle

Galaxy

But there was zero uproar when Streetings tweets came out, and zero concern about whether the labour party supported misogyny by appointing him to a cabinet role.

Distraction from the issue.

You've confirmed that you support misogyny.

You have to be joking, and it's a very poor one! Galaxy is absolutely no supporter of misogyny, and will call it out whenever and wherever she sees it. Her disdain for the reaction, or lack thereof, to Streeting's tweet "confirms her misogyny" is an outrageous slur.

Moir's Daily Mail bigoted, and homophobic ( just shy of unlawful) article - was the issue that caused the uproar at the time from many. It was reported to the Press Complaints Commission- oh - leads by Paul Dacre- editor of the Daily Mail. Mmmmm

Streeting's comment about Moir ( i.e. that he would happily throw her under a train for her bigoted, homophobic comments about Stephen Gately, that had no evidential basis as detailed in the corners report), was triggered by her article. Streeting's comment didn't cause the uproar that Kenyon's multiple comments are making currently. Posters can come to their own conclusions why not.....

So the misogyny is ok if there is an apology and it was a while ago. Oh and if we don't like the woman concerned. It is quite hard to keep up with the rules these days.
I actually as I have said before have a bit of a soft spot for Streeting, I just think it might be useful to have some level of consistency.

Rosie51

twaddle

Galaxy

But there was zero uproar when Streetings tweets came out, and zero concern about whether the labour party supported misogyny by appointing him to a cabinet role.

Distraction from the issue.

You've confirmed that you support misogyny.

You have to be joking, and it's a very poor one! Galaxy is absolutely no supporter of misogyny, and will call it out whenever and wherever she sees it. Her disdain for the reaction, or lack thereof, to Streeting's tweet "confirms her misogyny" is an outrageous slur.

No, I'm not joking. Anybody who dismisses the insult aimed at Carol Vorderman and the England Ladies Rugby players is no supporter of women's issues.

I assume you know why Streeting reacted as he did to Jan Moir's outrageously homophobic rant about Stephen Gately's death. I'm not a Streeting fan and he was unprofessional to react as he did, but the article she wrote was so disgusting that it made a lot of people very angry. If you follow the same logic as used by people who support Robert Kenyon and the man who heckled Rachel Reeves, it would appear it's acceptable now to use threatening language in public.

Galaxy

So the misogyny is ok if there is an apology and it was a while ago. Oh and if we don't like the woman concerned. It is quite hard to keep up with the rules these days.
I actually as I have said before have a bit of a soft spot for Streeting, I just think it might be useful to have some level of consistency.

No problem with consistency! Hope you will remember that.

PS. I don't like what the woman wrote about gays.

JenniferEccles

Wes Streeting once said he would like to push the Mail columnist Jan Moir under a train.

Just demonstrates the calibre of a lot of politicians these days.

Not all though. For instance, I certainly can’t imagine Theresa May or Rishi Sunak stooping so low.

Not all though. For instance, I certainly can’t imagine Theresa May or Rishi Sunak stooping so low

Me neither. And I'm a leftie, woke, snowflake (according to some anyway).

Nor can I envisage Starmer, for all his faults, making such a comment... and I'm really not a fan of his.

I also remember 30p-Lee Anderson telling a group of women to "stay out of 'big boy politics' " (whatever they are). I think Margaret Thatcher might have curated a suitable reply to 30p - and I was no fan of hers, either.

Across the board, an oaf in a suit is an oaf in a suit. Unfortunately, Reform appears to have attracted more than their fair share.

I really believe that women should consider how Reform intends to formulate its policies around women - some of them sound distinctly Trumpian. Will women ultimately end up being criminalised for seeking an abortion or even experiencing a miscarriage?