Reform UK’s candidate for the upcoming Makerfield by-election, Robert Kenyon, has faced scrutiny after comments appeared to endorse Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea. In an online forum discussion dated a month after the annexation, Kenyon agreed with a statement asserting that the people of Crimea had exercised their democratic right by voting to join Russia. He wrote that Russia was “well within their rights” to act as it did, drawing a parallel to the United Kingdom’s retention of the Falkland Islands.

The remarks have sparked concern amid heightened tensions over the conflict in Ukraine. In the forum, Kenyon responded under a post titled “Hypocrisy of the West regarding Ukraine in the sin bin,” where a user stated that the will of Crimean voters justified the annexation, comparing it to regions such as the Falklands and Gibraltar remaining British by popular demand. Kenyon expressed support for this viewpoint but questioned whether Latvia might be Russia’s next target.

This episode is the latest controversy surrounding Kenyon’s social media history, which includes past posts seemingly expressing uncertainty about Brexit and distancing himself from stereotypical right-wing labels. Reform UK issued a statement emphasizing that Kenyon is a “proud Brexiteer” and has never endorsed freedom of movement policies associated with the European Union. The party also rejected allegations that Kenyon supports Russia’s actions, stating he is “fully opposed to Russia’s illegal and brutal invasion of Ukraine” and reaffirming their confidence in his candidacy.

Kenyon’s online record has further drawn criticism due to his previous sharing of content by far-right figures with histories of Holocaust denial and connections to neo-fascist individuals. These revelations add complexity to a by-election campaign in which Reform UK is attempting to challenge Labour’s Andy Burnham in a constituency that voted strongly to leave the EU. Recent polling in Makerfield shows Reform UK trailing Labour by just three percentage points.

The annexation of Crimea followed a March 2014 referendum, which Russian officials claimed was supported by 95.5 percent of voters, though the legitimacy of the vote has been widely disputed. Then-Foreign Secretary William Hague called it a “sham and perverse democratic process.” Since the takeover, an estimated 100,000 Ukrainians have fled Crimea amid a Kremlin crackdown on dissent.

Luke Pollard, the UK Minister for Defence, criticized Kenyon’s remarks as echoing “Kremlin talking points” and said the candidate’s views are “completely out of step with the British people,” highlighting the UK’s support for Ukraine in the face of ongoing Russian aggression.

The Reform UK spokesperson maintained that Kenyon’s comments do not constitute an endorsement of Russia’s actions in Crimea, reiterating the party’s opposition to Russia’s invasion and support for their candidate’s role in the Makerfield contest.