TV legend Carol Vorderman has referred to as out failed Tory mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey for “sexist” feedback after his rant over her Instagram posts.
It got here because the Tory peer, who misplaced his bid in opposition to Sadiq Khan in 2021 for City Hall, tried to query the previous Countdown host’s credibility as a “serious political commentator”.
Appearing on GB News final week, he mentioned: “Look on one hand she’s got all that stuff, you know, she’s a serious political commentator, and then if you look at her Instagram it’s all pictures of her bum and her boobs. So what is it here? She can’t be both”.
Responding to the rant on Twitter /X, Ms Vorderman accused Lord Bailey of misogyny over his feedback. She posted: “So Shaun thinks that women who wear lycra in the gym shouldn’t be allowed a political opinion…. or I assume a vote! Failed Mayoral candidate #SexistShaun was made a Lord last year. Yet another Tory honour for dishonour”.
The presenter was additionally backed by the journalist Ava Evans – the goal of vile feedback from the previous actor Laurence Fox on GB News final yr. She posted on social media: “Really exhausting to see this said about [Carol Vorderman]. It’s so easy to use your interview time to go for someones arguments, yet he can’t help himself but go for her body.”
Lord Bailey, who was handed his peerage by ex-PM Boris Johnson, was photographed on the notorious lockdown-busting ‘Jingle and Mingle’ Christmas bash in Tory HQ in 2020 which led to police fines. At the time he apologised “unreservedly” for the occasion organised by his marketing campaign workforce, and mentioned it was a “serious error of judgment”.
The Tory peer’s comments on GB News on 28 December got here as he was defending Veterans’ Minister Johnny Mercer amid a row final week with Ms Vorderman. Mr Mercer had hit out on the presenter and his Labour election rival Fred Thomas after they shared figures revealing an increase in homelessness amongst armed forces veterans. Mr Thomas, a former Royal Marine, mentioned he was “furious” and requested if Mr Mercer would apologise for his “abject failure”.
Ms Vorderman shared the Labour candidate’s put up, sparking an indignant response from the highest Tory. Veterans’ Minister Mr Mercer accused them of “deliberately misleading” the general public “because that makes your s*** lonely life feel better.”
Lord Bailey mentioned: “In a recent panel discussion, I used a clumsy form of words to describe Carol Vorderman’s Instagram posts.” He claimed he was making an attempt to make the purpose that “Carol lives in a world of glitz and celebrity” however “bullies those who hold different political views to her own”.