Reform’s candidate in the spotlight for the by-election has declined to offer an apology to Carol Vorderman following inappropriate comments directed at the former Countdown host.
Robert Kenyon, who is contesting against Labour’s Andy Burnham in the Makerfield election, justified his stance by stating that “no offence was intended.” Pressure mounted on Nigel Farage to withdraw support from Kenyon after controversial remarks surfaced on a now-deleted X account, as revealed by the advocacy group HopeNotHate.
HopeNotHate uncovered a conversation where Kenyon appeared to endorse a degrading message about Carol in 2021. Despite criticism from another user, Kenyon joined in, claiming, “He’s only saying what we’re all thinking.” In response, Carol demanded an apology from Kenyon for his online misconduct.
Kenyon, speaking to the Manchester Evening News, acknowledged his past mistakes, attributing the incident to a misguided attempt at humor. When asked directly about issuing an apology, Kenyon reiterated that no harm was intended and dismissed the need for a direct apology to Carol.
Former Labour Cabinet minister Louise Haigh, leading Andy Burnham’s campaign, condemned Reform for inadequate vetting of Kenyon’s background, citing the disrespectful and sexist nature of his posts about Carol. Haigh called for Kenyon’s removal as a candidate, emphasizing that his behavior disqualifies him from serving as an MP.
In response to the investigation by HopeNotHate, a spokesperson for Reform UK expressed full support for Kenyon, portraying him as a genuine representative of the local community who will champion the interests of working-class constituents in Makerfield.
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