Carol Vorderman has called for an apology from Reform UK candidate Robert Kenyon following what she described as 'disgusting comments' made about her on social media. The broadcaster and former Countdown star labelled Kenyon, who is standing in the upcoming Makerfield byelection, a 'cowardly man' for a series of offensive posts that have since been deleted along with his account.
Vorderman told the Daily Mirror on Tuesday that she wanted 'an apology from Rob Kenyon, to me, and to all the other people he’s abused online'. The comments in question include a 2021 post where Kenyon responded to a user who wrote 'My god I’d love to smell and lick your arsehole' about Vorderman, saying: 'He’s only saying what we’re all thinking'.
Reform MP Danny Kruger defended Kenyon, describing the remarks as 'inappropriate' but not serious enough to remove him as a candidate. He argued that Kenyon was 'an ordinary man from an ordinary place' and that the comments were made in what was considered a private conversation. Vorderman dismissed this, stating that being an 'ordinary man' was no excuse and that the posts were public, constituting online abuse.
Further comments from Kenyon have emerged, including posts on a rugby league forum in 2019 where he claimed women have abortions for 'vanity purposes' and that women cannot 'ref, drive or give directions'. He also declared 'I’m sexist, sorry but I am'. A Reform spokesperson said these comments were made before Kenyon entered politics and that he is entitled to his own opinions on abortion, adding that he is 'a straight-talking, effective voice for normal working people'.
