Carol Vorderman has called for an apology from Robert Kenyon, the Reform UK candidate in the upcoming Makerfield byelection, over what she describes 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.
In 2021, Kenyon responded to a post about Vorderman where another user wrote, 'My god I’d love to smell and lick your arsehole,' by saying, 'He’s only saying what we’re all thinking.' Vorderman told the Daily Mirror on Tuesday that she wants an apology from Kenyon for the abuse directed at her and others.
Danny Kruger, who joined Reform last September, defended Kenyon, saying the comments were 'inappropriate' but not serious enough to remove him as a candidate. Kruger argued that Kenyon was 'an ordinary man from an ordinary place' at the time of the posts. Vorderman dismissed this, stating that being an 'ordinary man' is no excuse for online abuse, and that the public nature of the posts makes them unacceptable.
Further comments from Kenyon have emerged on a rugby league forum from 2019, where he claimed women have abortions for 'vanity purposes' and stated 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 personal opinions on abortion.
Labour’s Angela Rayner criticised the comments, saying it 'says all you need to know about Reform that they are allowing this repulsive misogynistic abuse to stand.' The byelection in Makerfield will see Kenyon face Labour's Andy Burnham next month.
