Reform’s candidate in a controversial by-election has declined to apologize to Carol Vorderman following inappropriate comments made about the former Countdown star. Robert Kenyon, who is contesting against Labour’s Andy Burnham in the Makerfield election, defended himself by stating that no harm was intended. Pressure mounted on Nigel Farage to withdraw his party’s support for Kenyon after offensive remarks were uncovered on a deleted online account.
The group HopeNotHate uncovered the derogatory remarks made by Kenyon towards Carol in 2021. Despite criticism from other users, Kenyon dismissed the comments as merely reflecting common thoughts. Carol responded by demanding an apology from Kenyon for his online abuse towards her and others.
In an interview with the Manchester Evening News, Kenyon admitted to past mistakes, attributing the offensive remarks to a misguided attempt at humor. When asked directly if he would apologize, Kenyon maintained that his comments were not directed at Carol and that similar language could be heard in various public settings. Meanwhile, Louise Haigh, a former Labour Cabinet minister leading Andy Burnham’s campaign, criticized Reform for failing to vet Kenyon properly.
Responding to the investigation by HopeNotHate, a spokesperson for Reform UK expressed full support for Kenyon, emphasizing his candidacy as an authentic representation of the local community. The party defended Kenyon’s past comments as unrelated to his current political role, praising his straightforward communication style as a strength for representing the working people of Makerfield.