The claim is that "Keir Starmer has studied the Reform candidate for Makerfield." In context, Starmer said this during PMQs on June 3, 2026, and then immediately proceeded to cite specific past comments by Robert Kenyon (the Reform candidate for Makerfield): that Kenyon was a "self-professed sexist" who said women get abortions for "vanity purposes," who encouraged people not to get the COVID vaccine, and who said Russia was "within its rights" to invade Crimea. Multiple independent news sources confirm each of these specific allegations about Kenyon: - "Self-professed sexist": The i Paper, Mirror, and Manchester Evening News all report Kenyon wrote "I'm sexist, sorry but I am" and that "women can't ref, drive or give directions" on a rugby league forum. - "Vanity purposes": The i Paper and Mirror confirm Kenyon wrote that the "majority [of abortions] are for vanity purposes like unwanted pregnancies." - COVID vaccine scepticism: The Lancs Live and Manchester Evening News report Kenyon's posts casting doubt on COVID boosters, including "Wait longer, take vitamins, stop having boosters." - Crimea comments: The Daily Telegraph reported Kenyon's 2014 forum post: "I agree totally, Russia are well within their rights to do what they have done, as we did with the Falklands." The fact that Starmer was able to accurately cite specific, verifiable past statements by Kenyon — all of which match the public record reported by multiple news outlets — constitutes strong observable evidence that he (or his office) had indeed studied or researched the Reform candidate for Makerfield. There is no evidence contradicting this. While we cannot directly verify Starmer's internal mental process of "studying," the demonstrated detailed and accurate knowledge of the candidate's background is entirely consistent with the claim, and no contradictory evidence exists. Sources: - BBC News, "Reform UK's Makerfield candidate faces social media allegations" — https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy025epkl79o - Manchester Evening News, "Keir Starmer slates Reform's Makerfield candidate Robert Kenyon as 'self-professed sexist'" — https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/uk-news/keir-starmer-slates-reforms-makerfield-34058336 - Lancs Live, "Keir Starmer takes aim at Reform candidate saying 'women get abortions for vanity'" — https://www.lancs.live/news/uk-world-news/keir-starmer-takes-aim-reform-34059698 - The i Paper, "The unearthed messages from Reform's 'sexist' by-election candidate" — https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/the-unearthed-messages-from-reforms-sexist-by-election-candidate-4441984 - The i Paper, "The '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 - The Daily Britain, "Reform's Makerfield candidate said Russia was 'well within their rights' to annex Crimea" — https://thedailybritain.co.uk/kenyon-reform-makerfield-russia-crimea-rights-ukraine-2026/ - BBC News, "Reform announces candidate for Makerfield by-election" — https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce3pwdwlk0yo