Reform by-election candidate claimed Russia ‘inside their rights’ to take Crimea
In the latest unearthed social media comment made by Robert Kenyon, he agreed with a post which described Moscow’s annexation of Crimea in March 2014 as ‘democracy in action’
Robert Kenyon backed the annexation of Crimea
Reform UK’s candidate in the Makerfield by-election claimed Russia was “within their rights” to invade Crimea in 2014.
In the latest unearthed social media comment made by Robert Kenyon, he agreed with a post which described Moscow’s annexation of the peninsula in March 2014 as “democracy in action”.
The claims come after a series of controversial posts from the Reform UK candidate, who is taking on Labour’s Andy Burnham in the Greater Manchester constituency on June 18.
In an online forum in March 2014, Mr Kenyon responded to a post titled “Hypocrisy of the West regarding Ukraine in the sin bin”, where a member wrote: “The people of the Crimea want to be in Russia, for me that is democracy in action.”
Mr Kenyon replied: “I agree totally, Russia are well within their rights to do what they have done, as we did with the Falklands. However, will Latvia be next?”.
READ MORE: Under-fire Reform by-election candidate accused of homophobia over ‘toxic’ posts
In the two years after the annexation, more than 100,000 Ukrainians fled Crimea as the Kremlin clamped down on dissidents.
The controversial post is one of many made by the plumber, who also posted offensive comments about women, including expressing support for a sexually explicit tweet about Carol Vorderman. Finally responding to the Countdown star, who has demanded an apology, he said: “It’s a crass comment that I certainly wouldn’t make today.”
Mr Kenyon has also been linked to a post on an online rugby forum in the 2010s which stated women cannot “ref, drive or give directions”. Other comments include appearing to condemn Nigel Farage ’s friend Donald Trump, and admit not voting Brexit.
Luke Pollard, a defence minister, said: “Nigel Farage has again chosen a candidate who promotes Kremlin talking points and makes excuses for Putin’s unacceptable actions against Ukraine.
“While we stand with Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression, Robert Kenyon has shown he’s completely out of step with the British people.”
It comes as a group of MPs wrote to the chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) demanding a probe into Reform UK regarding allegations of Islamophobia. Twenty-six Labour MPs and one former Labour MP, now an independent MP, have reported Reform UK for possible Islamophobia after the group claimed there was “overwhelming evidence” the party has breached its obligations under the 2010 Equality Act.
A Reform UK spokesman said: “At no point did Rob explicitly support or endorse Russia’s actions in Crimea. These comments were made before he was in politics and during a time when the British Prime Minister was still having meetings with Vladimir Putin. Rob is unequivocally opposed to Russia’s illegal and brutal invasion of Ukraine.“We fully back Cllr Kenyon. He is an excellent, local candidate who we are confident will be a superb MP for Makerfield.”
