Meet Reform's 'plucky plumber' Makerfield by-election candidate who faces 'David versus Goliath battle' against Andy Burnham

Reform UK has announced self-employed plumber Robert Kenyon as the party's candidate for the crucial Makerfield by-election to challenge Andy Burnham's bid to return to Westminster.

Mr Kenyon, who has served as an army reservist and previously worked as a technician for the NHS in Lancashire, also ran in the 2024 election, where he finished in second place.

Reform leader Nigel Farage said: “This by-election contest is now a David versus Goliath battle.

"This is ‘the plucky plumber’ taking on ‘open borders Burnham’. Only Reform UK can beat Labour in this by-election.”

The by-election was triggered after Josh Simmons MP forfeited his seat to make way for Mr Burnham, who is believed to be using the by-election as a means to re-enter Parliament and launch a leadership challenge against the Prime Minister.

Reform's candidate prides himself as a true local, claiming his family lineage can be traced back in Makerfield for at least the last 200 years.

With a narrow margin of just 5,000 votes between Labour and Reform in Makerfield during the last general election, Andy Burnham by no means picked a safe seat.

Makerfield, made up of Wigan, Hindley and Ashton-in-Makerfield, has held as a Labour seat for decades, but saw a surge in support for Reform during the local elections earlier this month.

Nigel Farage previously said Reform would "throw absolutely everything" to stop Andy Burnham, in what has been described as the most significant by-election in history.

Announcing Mr Kenyon's candidacy, a party spokesman said: “Makerfield was Andy Burnham’s back up plan. For Robert Kenyon, it’s his home.”

If elected, Mr Kenyon would become the first person born in the constituency to become the MP.

He already sits as one of Reform’s newly elected councillors in the area, currently sitting for Bryn with Ashton-in-Makerfield North.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:

• Keir Starmer's future as Prime Minister 'rests on the outcome of Makerfield', top pollster warns
• 'Brexit has worked!' Labour warned NOT to submit Britain to European Union's 'economic slavery'
• Mandelson files release date DELAYED as Labour accused of 'yet another cover up'

In a video shared by the party, Mr Kenyon said: “Labour and a lot of the other parties have got career politicians, they go to private school, they go to university, they get a job at a think tank.

“For Andy Burnham, Makerfield will be a stepping stone, but for me it’s the only place I’ve ever wanted to represent.”

MORE TO FOLLOW...