Carol Vorderman has called for an apology from Reform UK's candidate in the upcoming Makerfield byelection, Robert Kenyon, over what she described as 'disgusting comments' he made about her on social media. The broadcaster and former Countdown star labelled Kenyon a 'cowardly man' for a series of offensive posts, which 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 controversy stems from a 2021 post where Kenyon responded to a user's crude remark about Vorderman by saying, 'He’s only saying what we’re all thinking'.
Danny Kruger, who joined Reform in September, defended Kenyon's comments as 'inappropriate' but not serious enough to remove him as a candidate. Kruger said the remarks were made in what were 'intended as private conversations' before Kenyon entered politics. Vorderman dismissed this, stating that being an 'ordinary man' was no excuse and that the public nature of the posts constituted online abuse.
Further comments from Kenyon have emerged on a rugby league forum from 2019, where he allegedly claimed women have abortions for 'vanity purposes' and that women cannot 'ref, drive or give directions'. A Reform spokesperson said these comments were made before Kenyon entered politics and that he is entitled to his personal opinions on abortion, adding that he will be a 'straight-talking, effective voice for normal working people'.
