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The Reform UK candidate who hopes to derail Andy Burnham’s ambitions to win the Makerfield by-election and replace Sir Keir Starmer as Prime Minister has warned that local voters do not want to be a “sideshow” in Labour’s “civil war”. Robert Kenyon, a plumber who took Nigel Farage’s party to second place in the constituency in the 2024 election, aims to build on this month’s successes in the council contests and send a non-Labour MP to Parliament for the first time in Makerfield’s history.

The 41-year-old has found himself at the centre of a firestorm over past social media posts. Television presenter Carol Vorderman has demanded an apology after a message from 2021 surfaced. Mr Kenyon had responded to a post by another user who wanted to perform a lewd act on Ms Vorderman by saying: “He’s only saying what we’re all thinking.”

Mr Kenyon said: “It’s a crass comment that I certainly wouldn’t make today.”

He said it was a “crude” remark made to a small number of followers and turned his guns on Labour’s record in defending women’s rights. Labour, he claimed, had to be “dragged kicking and screaming” into having an inquiry into the grooming gangs scandal.

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”.

He said: “I’m not a career politician. I’m not polished, I don’t claim to be. I’m certainly not perfect. And throughout my time, I would have said things that I would regret now and wouldn’t say now.”

The would-be MP said he had a “lot of respect for female rugby players and female refs” and that these were “throwaway comments”.

However, he denied highly-publicised claims he may have voted Remain in the 2016 Brexit referendum.

“I’ve never been a Remainer,” he said, adding: “I was a UKIP voter and I put my faith in Nigel, and I voted to leave. And you know, it’s a decision that I’m glad we made because we can make a success of it; it just has to have the right government in charge to make it a success.”

Mayor of Greater Manchester Mr Burnham and fellow potential leadership contender Wes Streeting have expressed hopes the UK will one day rejoined the European Union. Mr Kenyon believes this election could be a “pivotal” moment for Britain.

He said: “I’ve got to be brave, and I’ve got to put myself out there… That’s one of the reasons that I’m getting myself out of my comfort zone and standing, because I believe Reform UK is the best route to take for the future of this country.”

He had a sharp warning for Labour that people were unhappy to see their constituency dragged into the party’s succession battle.

He said: “I think they feel a bit taken for granted – even more when people are just sort of using the constituency of Makerfield and the people of Wigan as a pawn in [a] Labour civil war.”

The by-election was triggered this month after sitting MP Josh Simons announced he was quitting Parliament so “Andy Burnham can return to his home”.

Mr Kenyon warned Right-leaning voters against giving their support to rival party Restore Britain, which has been championed online by space and tech entrepreneur Elon Musk.

The Reform candidate argued the contest is a “two-horse race” and “if they do vote Restore, it’s a vote for Labour”.

The Green Party is challenging Labour from the Left and has announced that Sarah Wakefield, a Manchester City Council councillor, will fight the seat – replacing an earlier candidate who withdrew.

Steve Austin, a 72-year-old former plumber, was delighted to see Mr Kenyon standing in Makerfield.

He said the area had “changed completely” since the days when it was dominated by the coal industry and it was time for a “completely different” party to represent the constituency.

“Let somebody else have a go,” he said.

However, Gordon Summers, an 83-year-old constituent, said he was “all for” Mr Burnham becoming prime minister.

He said: “I mean, he’s done great in Manchester.”