Reform UK knew of Makerfield candidate's deleted accounts before selection

Reform UK selected Robert Kenyon as their Makerfield by-election candidate despite knowing about his deleted social media accounts beforehand. The revelation has intensified scrutiny on Kenyon ahead of the key by-election. Questions are now being raised about the party's vetting process.

Reform UK was aware of Robert Kenyon's deleted social media accounts before officially selecting him as their candidate in the Makerfield by-election, according to new information that has emerged amid growing scrutiny of his online past.

Kenyon, who is standing in the Makerfield constituency, has faced mounting pressure in recent days as questions about his digital history have come to light. The revelation that party officials knew of the issue prior to his selection raises serious questions about Reform UK's candidate vetting procedures.

The Makerfield by-election has become one of the more closely watched contests in recent British politics, with Reform UK hoping to make gains in a seat that could signal the party's broader electoral appeal. Kenyon's candidacy has now become a focal point of controversy that threatens to overshadow the campaign.

Reform UK has not yet provided a full public explanation for why the party proceeded with Kenyon's selection despite knowing about the deleted accounts. The nature of the content that prompted the account deletions has not been fully disclosed, adding further uncertainty to the situation.

The controversy underscores the challenges facing newer political parties as they scale up candidate recruitment across a large number of constituencies, where rigorous background checks can be difficult to maintain consistently.