Reform UK candidate’s remarks on abortion and rape are “dangerous and misogynistic”, says Abortion Rights

Abortion Rights condemns the deeply misogynistic and extremist comments made by Reform UK’s Makerfield by-election candidate Robert Kenyon, in which he described abortion as a “cowardly act of murdering a defenceless baby” and suggested women falsely claim rape in order to access abortion care.

These remarks are not only false, offensive and stigmatising, they are fundamentally out of step with the views of the public, the medical community, and the overwhelming majority of people who support the right to safe and legal abortion.

At a time when abortion rights are under increasing attack globally, comments like these contribute to a hostile climate for women and pregnant people seeking healthcare and for the professionals who provide it. Public representatives should be working to protect reproductive rights, not spreading misinformation and misogyny.

Kerry Abel, Chair of Abortion Rights, said:

“Robert Kenyon’s comments are appalling and reveal a deeply harmful attitude towards women and abortion care. Suggesting that women lie about rape in order to access abortions is both dangerous and insulting to survivors of sexual violence.

“Abortion is essential healthcare and the overwhelming majority of people in Britain support the right to choose. Candidates seeking public office should be challenged when they promote rhetoric that seeks to shame, stigmatise and undermine reproductive rights.

“These comments also raise wider concerns about the kinds of extremism and intolerance being normalised in our political discourse. Everyone deserves access to safe, legal abortion without judgement, harassment or political point-scoring.”