Reform UK’s ‘sexist plumber’ Robert Kenyon was blasted by an audience member as he again declined to apologise to Carol Vorderman – and also failed to defend Nigel Farage’s £5million gift from a crypto billionaire
Reform UK’s “sexist plumber” has been savaged over his refusal to apologise for sexist remarks – 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’s Andy 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.
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 were also quizzed about allegations of ‘two-tier policing’ and Nigel 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.
‘I’d rather have a career politician than a sexist plumber’
Mr Kenyon floundered as he was urged to apologise to Carol Vorderman over his past comments on social media. His behaviour was put into sharp focus after an audience member told him: “I’d rather have a career politician than a sexist plumber.”
Mr Kenyon has come under fire after crass comments about women, but he has steadfastly refused to say sorry. These include agreeing with a post describing a vile sexual act directed at Ms Vorderman. Green party candidate Sarah Wakefield pleaded with him to apologise to the TV star, who she said was watching. But Mr Kenyon said he “won’t accept” being labelled a sexist and tried to draw a line under the controversy.
Irate Ms Wakefield told him: “I actually spoke to Carol Vorderman this morning. She called me because she is really distressed that you have failed to apologise for any of these comments.”
Ms Wakefield said: “She is watching at home tonight. And I wonder if you can look down that camera and say to Carol, you know what, I’m sorry. Can you do that?”
As Mr Kenyon floundered, the Green candidate continued: “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.”
Mr Kenyon said: “I was brought up by a single parents 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.” He admitted he had “made mistakes”, but said the past remarks had been “dragged up”.
He has also made derogatory remarks about female rugby players and referees, abortion and admitted being sexist. Referring to the remark about Ms Vorderman, he said: “Don’t get me wrong, it was disgusting comment that somebody else had written, but I commented on the comment.”
Burnham confirms he plans to challenge Starmer if race is triggered
Mr Burham is seeking to return to Parliament on June 18. He has been widely tipped to challenge Mr Starmer for the top job, but has not explicitly said so until now. Mr Streeting, who stepped down as Health Secretary last month, has said he intends to put himself forward.
Mr Burnham told the audience on Thursday evening: “I’m not somebody who gets ahead of myself. I can’t do anything unless I’m lucky enough to get the support of people here. But if I get your support, I would seek to represent you at the highest possible level and give this constituency maximum power and influence.
“I think Wes Streeting seems to have launched a leadership contest, so if that is running, I would seek to join it. But I’d have to persuade members of the Parliamentary Labour Party to do the same. So that’s the only question… I’ve said to my team, let’s have a proper look at this and let’s develop a policy.”
The contest was called after Labour MP Josh Simons announced he would be stepping down. Mr Burnham faces a tough battle to return to Westminster, with Reform UK winning all the available council seats in the constituency at last month’s local elections.
Mr Burnham said the Westminster system is not working – sparking his decision to quit in 2017. Asked how to restore faith in politics, he said: “In the end, it took me a long time to realise that the system just simply was not set up to support places like ours, and it treated us as the bottom of the list rather than the top of the list.”
Nigel Farage blamed for violence in Southampton
Mr Burham has hit out at Nigel Farage over his comments about Henry Nowak’s murder.
In a video released by the Reform leader on Tuesday morning, Mr Farage called for “pure cold rage” in response to harrowing bodycam footage. That evening violence unfolded in Southampton, with Mr Farage coming under heavy criticism.
Mr Burnham said: “If you give a preordained statement at 8 in the morning, believe me, you are well aware of what you say and what might happen later in that day. Those consequences were seen on the streets of Southampton, and the ringleaders of that violence used exactly the same words as the leader of the Reform Party when they were orchestrating that violence.”
He continued: “And this is a big question that comes to the heart of this by-election. Honestly, do we want to carry on in Britain down this path towards a politics like the United States of America, where if people vote different ways, they won’t talk to each other and they won’t have any relationship with each other?
“Or do we want to be true to Britain and still live in a country where we work to find common ground?”
Reform candidate fails to defend Farage over £5million gift
There was a brutal moment as Mr Kenyon was challenged over his party leader’s £5million gift from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne.
An audience member also brought up the Reform leader making pro-IRA comments for cash in a Cameo video. She branded it “shameful”, telling the Reform candidate: “Your boss, Nigel Farage, took a £5million payment from a crypto billionaire.
“Suddenly he’s a party for crypto, crypto currency. How are we to trust that you and your party wouldn’t sell this country off to the highest bidder? When you have got a leader who runs your party, who will say ‘up the IRA’ for £80? I think it’s shameful.”
Mr Farage later said he was tricked into making the comment. The £5million gift is being probed by Parliament’s Standards Commissioner.
Mr Kenyon responded: “Regards to the £5million that’s going to Parliament. So they’re going to decide on, you know, whether there’s anything wrong in it. So it’s something that’s beyond my control anyway.”
Two tier policing claims
Asked if there is a ‘two-tier policing’ system in the UK, Mr Burnham said: “Not in Greater Manchester.”
Nigel Farage has provoked a backlash for making the claim in the wake of Henry Nowak’s murder. The Greater Manchester told an audience member: “I’m not saying they’re perfect, but confidence in Greater Manchester Police is rising in all communities actually, including the black community.
“And I think there’s something here that needs to be applied nationally in terms of stepping back from this possibility that the police could be seen as two tier. And I think it’s right that the government are reviewing this guidance, because I don’t think this guidance that was issued related to the Police Race Action Plan has got it right.”