Reform’s new small enterprise tsar accused of spreading ‘harmful conspiracies’
Kevin Byrne, who spoke alongside Nigel Farage at a party event earlier this month, called Covid vaccinations the ‘crime of the century’ in one Facebook post this summer
Reform’s UK’s new small business tsar has been accused of spreading dangerous conspiracies on social media.
Kevin Byrne, who spoke alongside Nigel Farage at a party event earlier this month, called Covid vaccinations a crime on Facebook this year. The Checkatrade founder also posted anti-Pride comments, suggested he believed in the Loch Ness Monster and shared content from an anti-abortion organisation.
In August, he posted the link to a news article about a doctor whose licence was suspended in Australia over criticism of the Covid vaccine. Mr Byrne wrote a caption alongside saying: “Most fell for the crime of the century.”
In another Facebook post about Covid vaccine passports in September 2021, Mr Byrne said: “Many like me have been telling people for 20 months this is not about your health. They only want to control you. Nazi Britain is here. Data passports are just months away.”
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In April 2022, he posted a photo of a letter on Covid vaccinations, saying: “Any parent that considers this needs to have their children taken away from them.” He also seemingly admitted he ignored lockdowns rules in a post last year, saying he “never stayed at home”.
Among Mr Byrne’s other controversial comments are the anti-Pride remarks in a speech he gave, posted to YouTube a year ago. He said: “I am just shocked at the Pride movement… You’re associating your entire existence on your sexuality and that’s how everybody has to see you and, if not, you’re a bigot.”
Mr Byrne also reposted a clip on X in July 2023 of a video by Live Action – a US anti-abortion organisation – mocking pro-choice activists. Other posts suggest Mr Byrne believes in chemtrails, the idea plane vapour trails are harmful. And in September 2022 he suggested he believes in the Loch Ness Monster, saying in reference to a now-unavailable post: “This (is) incredible. Why the Mass Media haven’t covered it I’ll never know. I’d never had believed the Loch Ness Monster had any credibility until today.”
A Labour source said: “Nigel Farage needs to take action on the dangerous conspiracies seeping out of his party. From anti-vax lunacy, to degrading a women’s right to choose, Reform are insulting the public’s intelligence. These fringe views show Farage is not fit for high office.”
Reform leader Mr Farage unveiled Mr Byrne as the person shaping the party’s plans for small businesses just last month. Mr Byrne’s surprising views came to light in the same week the former leader of Reform UK in Wales, Nathan Gill, was jailed for accepting bribes from a Russian Putin ally. Mr Byrne sold Checkatrade in 2017 and was awarded an OBE in 2023. Reform UK has been approached for comment.
