The claim is well-supported by multiple independent news sources. The Reform UK candidate for the Makerfield by-election is Robert Kenyon, confirmed by the BBC and other outlets. Multiple news organisations — including The i Paper, Manchester Evening News, and The Independent — reported that Kenyon wrote on a rugby league forum in 2019: "I'd hazard a guess that the majority [of abortions] are for vanity purposes like unwanted pregnancies." Reform UK did not deny he made these comments; a spokesman described them as personal opinions made before he entered politics. Nigel Farage also acknowledged the comments existed, dismissing them as "a few laddish things." The claim as stated by Starmer — that the Reform candidate for Makerfield said women who get abortions do it for "vanity purposes" — is directly corroborated by the documented record. Sources: - The i Paper, "'Toxic' messages that reveal Reform candidate's anti-abortion views" — https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/toxic-messages-reveal-reform-candidates-anti-abortion-views-4437836 - Manchester Evening News, "More alleged sexist posts by Reform Makerfield by-election candidate Robert Kenyon emerge" — https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/more-alleged-sexist-posts-reform-34012716 - The Independent, "Farage dismisses Reform candidate's misogyny as 'a few laddish things'" — https://www.the-independent.com/news/uk/politics/nigel-farage-robert-kenyon-social-media-makerfield-byelection-b2993383.html - BBC, "Reform announces candidate for Makerfield by-election" — https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce3pwdwlk0yo - The London Economic, "Reform by-election candidate claimed women 'can't drive' and get abortions for 'vanity purposes'" — https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/politics/reform-makerfield-robert-kenyon-sexist-comments-abortion-posts-406452/