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

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.

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

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.

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.

👏👏👏👏👏👏

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!

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.

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..

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.....

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)

Miners strike, not mens strike 😂.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

On the other hand:

1) Reform may loose Makerfield
2) A Burnham win will demonstrate that Burnham has the pulling power to resist everything Farage/Reform UK threw at Makerfield
3) Burnham may go on to bring new ideas for change for the Labour Party as well as serve Makerfield
4) Burnham may go on to become PM in a leadership challenge- he is the favoured candidate of Labour members and the Unions
5) Burnham may go on to change the fortunes and direction of travel for the Labour Party for the next 2-3 years of government
6) The Labour Party may go on to win a second term with Starmer gone (recent by election results were dire for Starmer) and stop a Farage/Reform UK winning the next election
7) If Burnham wins Makerfield the statutory Deputy Mayor will stand into the Mayor vacancy until a by election within 35 days
8) A Labour Mayor may be elected for Greater Manchester in that by election- campaigning to continue the good work that Burnham has done over the past 10 years
9) If, by some chance a Reform Mayor wins that by election and does not perform as well as Burnham has, and is viewed less favourably that would be adverse for Reform UK and lower their chances at the next GE.

icanhandthemback

Oreo

Don’t you think that Burnham will win the seat then Maybee?
I think he has a really good chance of it.

I think that’s missing the point. People vote in good faith for the person they want and hope they’ll be there for the period of the government in power. I am also uneasy about how this particular situation is being manipulated by Andy’s supporters.

I don’t think it’s for the good of the country and I don’t think it looks good for the party after years of Conservative leadership musical chairs. So who is going to benefit from all this? Manchester May will lose their mayor. Makerfield will lose their elected MP whoever wins. Reform might gain the constituency or get a Reform mayor of Manchester.

Oreo

Don’t you think that Burnham will win the seat then Maybee?
I think he has a really good chance of it.

I think that’s missing the point. People vote in good faith for the person they want and hope they’ll be there for the period of the government in power. I am also uneasy about how this particular situation is being manipulated by Andy’s supporters.

Seconded *Cossy & foxie48*👏👏👏

foxie you have the skill of expressing complex, difficult issues in a very meaningful, thoughtful way … something I really admire🙏

leading= leaning

Cossy

Oldnproud

In answer to the question threat title, " ... should Kenyan apologise", my answer is no, he shouldn't - not unless he actually realizes and accepts that his comments were appalling.
An insincere apology would be worthless!

Better IMO that his refusal helps more people to realize what sort of person he really is.

Sadly, it seems, those who support don’t seem to much care.

I think he should be forced to issue a retraction and acknowledge his comment was completely unacceptable. Much better than a half arsed non-apology!

My priority concern is not whether Kenyon is sincere or not if he issues an apology. The priority is to address the impact such on line comments on CV and women generally. The absence of that focus gives a dangerous message to society.

I think Kenyon should make a public apology whether sincere or not. This has the benefit of men of all ages in his constituency, particularly those who are young, know such comments are not acceptable.

If Kenyon is unable to do that, and considers he's justified in his "private thoughts about women", then as second best option, in line with Cossy's suggestion, a retraction should be issued publicly to withdraw the comments, ideally from Kenyon or if not fromm a Reform UK spokesperson.

The absence of either is a message of condoning such comments as acceptable to all the men of Makerfield who are Reform leading- ie if my local politician can say these things it's must be OK.

I don't think either an apology or a retraction statement are likely.

Oldnproud

In answer to the question threat title, " ... should Kenyan apologise", my answer is no, he shouldn't - not unless he actually realizes and accepts that his comments were appalling.
An insincere apology would be worthless!

Better IMO that his refusal helps more people to realize what sort of person he really is.

Sadly, it seems, those who support don’t seem to much care.

I think he should be forced to issue a retraction and acknowledge his comment was completely unacceptable. Much better than a half arsed non-apology!

Oreo

Don’t you think that Burnham will win the seat then Maybee?
I think he has a really good chance of it.

I’ll be honest, this whole Andy Burnham thing and MPs stepping down and taking this awful risk makes me feel a little uneasy.

Reform whipped up so much support, very quickly, using people’s fears and anxieties and frustration, how awful would it be if they actually won!

Oreo

Don’t you think that Burnham will win the seat then Maybee?
I think he has a really good chance of it.

Either way it will be a win for Reform. If they win the seat they win. If they lose Burnham will win, will try to oust Starmer and their Starmer Out campaign will have worked.

In answer to the question threat title, " ... should Kenyan apologise", my answer is no, he shouldn't - not unless he actually realizes and accepts that his comments were appalling.
An insincere apology would be worthless!

Better IMO that his refusal helps more people to realize what sort of person he really is.