Reform’s Makerfield by-election candidate was branded a “sexist plumber” and blasted for again refusing to apologise to Carol Vorderman over a derogatory online remark.
Robert Kenyon was berated by a furious Green Party candidate in a fiery Question Time face-off two weeks ahead of the crunch contest. Labour’s Andy Burnham is seeking to return to Parliament, and for the first time confirmed he would challenge Keir Starmer if he becomes an MP and a leadership race is triggered.
In a dramatic exchange Mr Kenyon was challenged about online comments he has made about women, with one audience member telling him: “I would rather have a career politician than a sexist plumber.”
In 2021 he responded to a graphic sexual comment about the Countdown star saying: “”He’s only saying what we’re all thinking.” Green Sarah Wakefield said: “Every woman in this room and at home has been subject to shaming, whether in person or online. That’s disgusting.
“I think it’s just proving my point. Can you believe this? We have all been subjected to it, and the fact that a man like you cannot sit and do a simple apology, I think is disgraceful. But on top of that, Reform’s policies on women are shocking.”
Elsewhere Mr Kenyon failed to defend Nigel Farage over his £5million gift from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne, which is being investigated by Parliament’s standards commissioner.
New UpdatesView PostToday07:16 BST
Responding to a member of the audience who described him as “sexist” on last night’s Question Time, Reform UK’s by-election candidate Robert Kenyon said: “I won’t accept that label, I mean a lot of the things have been said 15 years ago.
“I hold my hands up, I’ve made mistakes…
“I was brought up by a single parent and my grandma, who was a widow, and an older sister. So I was brought up by women.
“I’ve got nothing but respect for women, you know, so I think something that’s said, you know, 15 years ago, dragged up from an old rugby forum, you know, it’s completely taken out of context.
“And like I say, I’ve made mistakes, I’ve said things years ago that I wouldn’t say now and I definitely don’t believe that, on that point.”
Mr Kenyon added: “I’ve got nothing but respect for women.”
Benedict Tetzlaff-DeasToday07:07 BST
Reform UK’s “sexist plumber” has been savaged over his refusal to apologise for derogatory remarks about women – including a vile slur about Carol Vorderman.
In a fiery exchange on BBC Question Time, an audience member told candidate Robert Kenyon: “I’d rather have a career politician than a plumber who’s a sexist.” In the special show, two weeks ahead of the Makerfield by-election, Labour’sAndy Burnham confirmed for the first time that he would join a leadership race against Keir Starmer if he got into Parliament and one was triggered.
And in a significant moment Mr Kenyon failed to defend Mr Farage’s £5million gift from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne shortly before becoming an MP – which he didn’t declare. The panel of five candidates was also quizzed about allegations of ‘two-tier policing’ and Mr Farage’s call for “pure cold rage” following Henry Nowak’s murder. Mr Burnham said the consequences of the Reform leader’s words were seen on the streets of Southampton, when 11 police officers were injured.
Despite being told Ms Vorderman was watching, Mr Kenyon refused to say sorry. Horrified Green Party candidate Sarah Wakeman told the audience: “Every woman in this room and at home has been subject to shaming, whether in person or online. That’s disgusting.
“I think it’s just proving my point. Can you believe this? We have all been subjected to it, and the fact that a man like you cannot sit and do a simple apology, I think is disgraceful. But on top of that, Reform’s policies on women are shocking.”
Click here for the key points from the crunch BBC Question Time debate
Robert Kenyon has repeatedly refused to apologise to Carol Vorderman(Image: Getty)