Labour has condemned allegations targeting Reform candidate Robert Kenyon over his social media connections. Campaigning organisation Searchlight claims Kenyon maintained a friendship with a fascist campaigner on a since-deleted Facebook page, raising fresh questions about vetting procedures within Reform UK ahead of the general election.
The discovery emerged as Labour intensifies scrutiny of Reform candidates following earlier revelations about inflammatory social media posts from party members. The allegation centers on Kenyon's association with an individual linked to far-right activism, though details remain limited at this stage.
A Labour spokesperson called the allegations "troubling," signaling the party intends to weaponize the findings in its campaign messaging. The timing proves significant. Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, has surged in polling but faced recurring controversies over candidate conduct and historical social media activity. Earlier this year, the party suspended multiple candidates after reports of racist, sexist, and extremist remarks circulated online.
Searchlight, known for exposing far-right movements and extremism, has positioned itself as a watchdog on this issue. The organization's focus on Reform candidates reflects broader concern about the party's rapid expansion and the difficulty in vetting large numbers of new recruits under election pressure.
Reform UK has not yet publicly responded to these specific allegations involving Kenyon. The party's handling of candidate controversies will likely feature prominently in Labour's closing campaign arguments, particularly as the race tightens in certain constituencies where Reform threatens traditional Conservative strongholds.
This incident underscores the ongoing battle over candidate standards and party discipline during the election cycle. For Labour, each new allegation provides ammunition to portray Reform as unprepared for government. For Reform, the accumulating scandals create narrative damage that complicates Farage's bid to reposition the party as a serious political force.