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

Galaxy

I don't like threats of violence, they concern me more than sexual unpleasantness. As I have said I don't think streeting was going to push someone under a train but I also don't think Kenyon was going to do what he suggested 🤢. To be absolutely honest this thread has confirmed absolutely my distrust of those who are shouting about it.

... "sexual unpleasantness" the sort of unpleasantness directed by men to women is, usually, from a misogynist. In fact, such men use this familiar way of sexually degrading women - especially women who have an opinion that doesn't wholeheartedly agree with theirs.

And misogyny is dangerous - misogynists are dangerous, they are the ones that bully women, assault, rape and even kill women.

Kenyon may not intend to kill - but he sure as heck encourages those who might with his comments. The manosphere is seething with men who are thinking of different ways to control women - including violence. I listened to one recently; he told us, women, "y'all only have the freedoms you enjoy, because we men allow it, we can if we want to, remove those freedoms". Another opined that women "should be careful" about commenting on male loneliness. Why? Because, as he said, when men get angry and frustrated, guess who they're going to take it out on? And his mannerisms left no doubt that he relished the idea of this kind of vengeance. I also, today, listened to another man tell his bro's that, "you don't have to accept rejection from a woman". In other words, you harass and bully her into submission.

When politicians cement their misogyny publicly, they are giving a green light to these men. They are encouraging them.

It might just be me - but I find this quite terrifying.

Galaxy

I don't like threats of violence, they concern me more than sexual unpleasantness. As I have said I don't think streeting was going to push someone under a train but I also don't think Kenyon was going to do what he suggested 🤢. To be absolutely honest this thread has confirmed absolutely my distrust of those who are shouting about it.

Do you trust anyone, Galaxy?

As I said upthread, that way of thinking makes it impossible for anyone to speak without fear of being asked what they did about XYZ, with attendant implication that if they didn't do anything/know nothing about it they are a hypocrite.

Also, there is a trend for metaphorical speech these days, some of which irritates me because it stops people from expressing nuance. All the same, I don't really believe that anyone is being accused of throwing someone under a bus, or that they think the PM really looks like a rabbit in the headlights. The same applies to pushing someone under a train - it's no different from saying 'I could have killed her' - it's almost never meant literally, and it's obvious that that is the case, just as it's obvious that you don't genuinely think that people on here are 'shouting about' Kenyon.

People are objecting to his sentiments in online posts, which is not the same as shouting about him, in the same way that saying one is willing to push someone under a train is not the same as genuinely being willing to kill her. In both cases (you and Streeting) metaphor is being used for emphasis and most readers will be well aware of that.

Me too.

On practical matters. Come 19 June 2026, it is entirely possible that Kenyon could be a Member of Parliament. As such he would be expected to abide by the Code of Conduct.

publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5803/cmcode/1083/1083-1.pdf

Unfortunately, he is standing for a party whose leader has shown contempt for the Code multiple times and is currently under investigation yet again (where a suspension looks entirely possible). So it would be fair to say that we cannot expect that he will be set a good example.

While the code explicitly states it does not seek to regulate what Members do in their purely private and personal lives, there are seven principles of public life. When one looks at these in the context of how Kenyon has conducted himself in the not very distant past, it would be very hard to have confidence that he would adhere to those principles.

If we look say at the principle of Objectivity:

Holders of public office must act and take decisions impartially, fairly and on merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias.

Kenyon showed extremely hostile discrimination and bias throughout his 2024 General Election campaign as shown in the Byline Times article:

bylinetimes.com/2026/05/20/reading-the-riot-act-reform-uks-makerfield-by-election-candidate-during-the-summer-of-trouble/

I think MPs and respective MPs forget that their job is to represent all their constituents not only those that support their party's views and policies. If I were a migrant or a woman needing help from my MP could I expect it from someone like Kenyon? I’m not sure that I could.

More historic social media posts have now emerged where he denigrates women’s skills and openly admits that he is a sexist.

From what we know of his work history it doesn’t strike me that he has ever worked in a mixed sex environment and yet come 19 June he could be in Westminster where 40% of MPs are women.

A new MP is very much dependent on help from colleagues from all parties in order to find their feet. It must be a very steep learning curve. If I were a female MP I would be going out of my way not to cooperate or engage with him at all not because he is a member of another party but because he is a misogynist and a racist who associates with neo-Fascists.

The Me too was to Dickens' comment about feeling terrified.

Prospective MPs not respective. Why do I never see these mistakes until they are highlighted in pink?

It might just be me - but I find this quite terrifying

Dickens you’re not alone

I find the current ‘manosphere’ behaviour disgusting and frightening. Their need to belittle and control women is pathetic … yet dangerous.

These sad ‘macho’ men are giving off very small di** energy!

Does Streeting have a history of making misogynist comments, does he share them online with other misogynists and use vulgar expressions which frankly I wouldn't even write yet alone speak? The answer to all of those questions is no. Did he respond angrily to a homophobic article written at a time that would have given huge distress to a grieving family and which as a gay man would probably have resonated more with him than some? Yes. Would he have responded in the same way if the article was written by a man rather than a woman? Almost certainly, yes. Was he exhibiting misogyny? No, not in my understanding of the concept.

Ask similar questions of Kenyon's post about CV and you would get very different opposite answers. The man is a serial misogynist who associates with others who are like him and is totally unsuitable to be an MP.

Saying you'd "happily push someone under a train" as a gay man, in angry retaliation to Moir who has intentionally published vile, homophobic comments is somewhat metaphorical. She is not contrite and has not apologised unlike Streeting who is the bigger person in that incident.

Galaxy, to censure Streeting because he is a man but NOT censure Moir's vile homophobic comments merely because she is a woman- is not being a good feminist- it's a warped view.

Kenyon's vile, repeated comments are not metaphorical in the same way- they are simply vile. Unlike Streeting there is a pattern to his vile behaviour. Further, he shows no contrition or apology. Neither does Farage or other Reform spokespersons. Simply unacceptable.

Warped and supporting misogyny, I can't imagine why I don't trust peopke on women's rights who say that. It's a mystery.
I had as many know relationships with women in my past, it would probably surprise you to know that those who get cross when I won't say the words they want me to say frighten me more than the homophobes who would call me names.

I think you often forget that the position at the extreme regarding women’s rights is yours, Galaxy, and you castigate others who do not share your view, which is not just.

Galaxy

Warped and supporting misogyny, I can't imagine why I don't trust peopke on women's rights who say that. It's a mystery.
I had as many know relationships with women in my past, it would probably surprise you to know that those who get cross when I won't say the words they want me to say frighten me more than the homophobes who would call me names.

You censure for Streeting but you have no censure for Moir is a warped/distorted view Galaxy and I am a feminist. That is not just.

I am not cross with you just mystified. I share Casdon's view You castigate others who do not share your extreme views, which is not just

I am castigating people who have said I support misogyny and have a warped view. And who get increasingly aggressive because I won't say the words they want me to say.

No aggression from me Galaxy, just an observation, that you disregard other peoples perspectives because yours is so purist.

Galaxy

I am castigating people who have said I support misogyny and have a warped view. And who get increasingly aggressive because I won't say the words they want me to say.

I don’t think that you need to. Your position is clear. That’s fine as long as you accept it is extreme and that others do not feel the desire or need to follow suit.

No i don't think you are aggressive at all casdon.

I'm going back to the O/P.

Robert Kenyon is a disgusting piece of work and all he has said should come out in mainstream newspapers on the right as well as left so people can decide for themselves and it not covered up, we are talking about a future MP not councillor and councillors have had to resign with similar things coming out

is its utterly out of order to let a man like that in to the HoC.

Kenyon is a councillor, Wyllow.

He is also a gas engineer. He has a current gas safe registration number for his business which is called Makerfield Heating. He said he worked for British Gas before becoming self-employed. Reviews of hs work are all about installation and servicing of gas boilers and gas heaters. He doesn’t advertise as a general plumber, someone who is going to come around to replace a tap, fix a burst pipe or install a new bathroom. It is all about gas heating.

So why is he being promoted by Reform as the “plucky plumber”? Is it because of Hannah Spencer or could it be that the word "gas" heard rather often would remind people of Farage’s anti-Semitic behaviour at Dulwich College?

I don’t understand why people are going on about Streeting. Whataboutery doesn’t diminish the seriousness of Kenyon’s behaviour nor that it is being glossed over by a party being touted as the next government lead by a man who is dishonest to the core.

I wonder how and why men like Kenyon become such misogynists? In the official video where he is driving Farage around and talking about his life, he talks about his mother who brought up his two siblings and him alone. He fondly points out his grandmother’s house. He doesn’t mention his father or his grandfather. He says that he spends 95% of his time thinking about rugby league.

Is this all about boorish locker room behaviour and jealousy that women are now very successful in sports that were once dominated by men? I know little about rugby league but read that Wigan Warriors have a highly successful professional women's rugby league team that competes in the top-tier Betfred Women's Super League. I wonder what they think about all this.

Galaxy I'm a feminist but I also believe that people don't have to agree with everyone else who is a feminist, it's a belief that women should have equality but it's not a single doctrine in which all feminists believe exactly the same. I also believe that people can change their mind when more information becomes available, that people sometimes say or do things that they regret and I can accept an apology as real rather than just "convenient" or self serving. I don't expect you to agree with me and I don't believe that I have to agree with you to demonstrate that I am a trust worthy feminist and I think that's where we differ.

No I don't think they have to believe the same, I don't think I have ever said that, it isn't me who is wanting people to repeat particular phrases to prove something.
I find for example the whole manosphere thing really weird ( no one knew what it meant five minutes ago and now we are all supposed to be deeply fearful), a similar movement happened around adolescence and that faded relatively quickly. I suppose I think people are looking for simple solutions to a problem that has existed well forever really.

That's the weakness of social media isn't it? We tend to fill in the gaps of understanding because messages are often quite short. It happens to me sometimes even though I do try to write clear concise messages, I'm often accused of saying something that I really haven't thought let alone said!
So coming back to my opener, would you have him in your house, would you vote for him and what do you think it tells you about Reform as a political party?

foxie48

That's the weakness of social media isn't it? We tend to fill in the gaps of understanding because messages are often quite short. It happens to me sometimes even though I do try to write clear concise messages, I'm often accused of saying something that I really haven't thought let alone said!
So coming back to my opener, would you have him in your house, would you vote for him and what do you think it tells you about Reform as a political party?

1 No
2 No
3 I don't live in Makerfield, so I'm not totally familiar with local issues and I don't have a vote. As an outsider, the message it gives me is that Reform doesn't care if its candidates have racist and misogynistic views. I get that this man is local, but he doesn't appear to have come up with any ideas for improving the area (nor has Reform).

Whitewavemark2

Galaxy

I am castigating people who have said I support misogyny and have a warped view. And who get increasingly aggressive because I won't say the words they want me to say.

I don’t think that you need to. Your position is clear. That’s fine as long as you accept it is extreme and that others do not feel the desire or need to follow suit.

Only extreme in some people’s minds.You can’t expect anyone to change their mind because of a pile on.

What’s obvious tho, is that we all regard the comments by Robert Kenyon as abhorrent.

I haven’t seen any posts on this thread expecting to change the mind of another poster.

Disagreeing … yes!
Expressing a different POV … yes!
Trying to change a mind … no🤷‍♀️

Then why do they keep harping on ?