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Carol Vorderman demands apology from Reform candidate over ‘disgusting comments’ Is she right and should Kenyon apologise?

(115 Posts)
LemonJam Tue 26-May-26 18:31:26

From the recipient's perspective: The broadcaster and former Countdown numbers expert described Robert Kenyon, who Reform has backed to face Andy Burnham in next month’s vote, as a “cowardly man” for a series of offensive posts made by the Wigan councillor that have since been deleted, along with his account. Vorderman, who last week posted a video in which she described Kenyon as a misogynist who made “disgusting comments”, 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”.

In 2021, Kenyon responded to a social media post about Vorderman in which 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 dismissed Danny Kruger’s public response (that Kenyon is an 'ordinary man' and they were private comments) , saying that being an “ordinary man” was no excuse and the fact that Kenyon’s posts were made publicly meant they should be considered as online abuse. “I’m 65, I grew up in north Wales in abject poverty, I spent half of my life living in the north, whether it was Leeds, or Manchester, or that strip of north Wales,” said Vorderman. “And he says Kenyon is just an ordinary man saying ordinary things. No, I’m sorry, Kenyon isn’t an ordinary man. He’s a cowardly man, which is why he deleted one of his social media accounts. “They are public comments on a public platform and if Danny Kruger thinks online abuse is OK then Reform are therefore stating online abuse against women is OK, then all women in Makerfield need to know that.”

LemonJam Thu 28-May-26 16:51:14

The next GE has to be held no later than 15 August 2029 so a good three years away yet.

It's true Starmer is under a great deal of pressure following the recent by election results- but a lot can happen over three years. His short to medium term challenge is to fend off a leadership challenge. Streeting (and others plus Unions) are all biding their time, waiting to see outcome of Makerfield by election. Even if Burnham loses, that means Reform wins, on top of recent by election vote swings away from Labour, so I suspect there will still be a leadership challenge.

I don't see a GE coming soon though.

LemonJam Thu 28-May-26 16:58:35

It's fair to say though, that Burnham is not the reason for Starmer's lack of popularity with the public, lack of confidence by a growing proportion of the Labour Party or the Unions . He is merely hoping to position himself as a leadership contender..

Bearing in mind Burnham has the highest party member's, general public and Unions popularity vote compared to all other contenders- that's why many are waiting for the Makerfield result with interest- including Reform.

LemonJam Thu 28-May-26 17:17:27

I do apologise- Ive got waylaid talking about Starmer, Burnham and the LP on this post which is about CV's receipt of Kenyon's online messages.

Sorry Ive been reading the other thread and got distracted.

Wyllow3 Thu 28-May-26 17:30:33

I joined finally in 1984, it was the men's strike that finally did it - I left because of the Iraq war: I rejoined in 2014 when it became clear what austerity would really entail.

Definitely no intention of leaving atm given the current situation: as in a "stay in and fight for which policies/leaders best. I don't see a change at this point a betrayal as such: sometimes they are necessary: I joined a Party, not for a particular leader.

Tho I did have substantial problems when Corbyn was leader, not enough to leave, but to try and get all back on track.but then so did all my particular branch Maybee:

and a complex divided CLP which was a tough time, however very good constituency MP who has been there since 2015.

Wyllow3 Thu 28-May-26 17:31:24

Miners strike, not mens strike 😂.

Wyllow3 Thu 28-May-26 17:40:26

Sorry me too Lemonjam.

Can anyone find any mention of Kenyon's remarks in the right wing media?

There's a sort of gaping hole.
Imagine it were the other way round, what it would look like then.

but the Manchester Evening news is not leftie and has been steadily carrying more new items

www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/reforms-white-van-man-robert-34021628

"Reform's white van man Robert Kenyon has some things to say - sorry isn't one of them
Robert Kenyon says he wants to represent the people of Makerfield as a local man who understands local struggles - but the Reform UK candidate’s campaign has been dominated by questions over controversial past social media posts. Beth Abbit went to meet him".

(and more)

LemonJam Thu 28-May-26 17:52:14

No Wyllow3- The Daily Mirror, BBC and the Guardian I've seen comment- but pleased to see the good old Manchester Evening News is reporting, as it should, locally. I decided my LP/Starmer comments would be better placed on the Andy Burnham thread.....

Kats2 Thu 28-May-26 18:35:58

I think she’ll be waiting a long time to get an apology from who ever said these frankly very weird things… she should have just responded with something scathing and sarcastic and belittling..that would have been me..

LemonJam Thu 28-May-26 18:57:32

Going public expecting an apology puts the focus on Kenyon i.e. to hold him to account.

The ball is then in Kenyon's court to respond with any remorse, apology, demonstration of insight of impact on women. The lack of it shows him up. The sorry state of response from Reform UK also shows Farage et al up. Not a bad move

I agree she is unlikely to get an apology but Kenyon's lack of response is making him look bad.

Cossy Thu 28-May-26 20:12:14

LemonJam

Going public expecting an apology puts the focus on Kenyon i.e. to hold him to account.

The ball is then in Kenyon's court to respond with any remorse, apology, demonstration of insight of impact on women. The lack of it shows him up. The sorry state of response from Reform UK also shows Farage et al up. Not a bad move

I agree she is unlikely to get an apology but Kenyon's lack of response is making him look bad.

Good!

Cossy Thu 28-May-26 20:14:33

MayBee70

Well, I left our Labour Party because I was never left wing enough for them ( eg Chris Williamson was a member). Felt happy to rejoin with Keir as leader but will resign my membership if Burnham becomes PM. Will still vote for my excellent new Labour MP. It feels wrong to not give the current government the five years they fought for and won. Especially given the obstacles that they have had to face; mainly Trump.

👏👏👏👏👏👏

Mollygo Fri 29-May-26 09:08:31

Maybee70
I agree about giving the LP the 5 years they were elected for. Fought for? I thought they were handed it in a plate after the last government.

The problem is that people were expecting miracles and miracles unsurprisingly failed to appear, just a pile of issues about personal actions, like glasses and houses and what’s been perceived as swithering.

The Trump issue is like Covid. Unexpected and not planned for, because it was unexpected.
If the LP can weather that they’ll probably be OK, but going down the route of infighting in the party and changing PM mid term, might very well give Reform a better chance.
That’s what worries me.

Maremia Fri 29-May-26 10:27:56

For anyone who is concerned about how CV feels about quoting the disgusting comments, she has been on LBC, to continue the discussion.

LemonJam Fri 29-May-26 12:10:08

Maremia- I applaud CV for continuing her efforts to keep the discussion in the public domain. Online misogyny is growing and should not be tolerated.