Makerfield canddate Robert Kenyon has come under fire over social media posts. It was reported he used a now-deleted X account to support an offensive post about Welsh broadcaster Carol Vorderman.
Messages published by campaign group Hope Not Hate showed that Mr Kenyon responded on Christmas Eve 2021 to another person’s post including graphic sexual language about the presenter who made her name as the maths expert on Channel 4’s Countdown.
Alongside a thumbs up and a laughing emoji, the plumber wrote: “He’s only saying what we’re all thinking.â€
When asked about the message, Reform MP Danny Kruger told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Monday: “The great challenge for social media for private people is that they use it as if they are chatting to their friends in the park. Clearly an inappropriate thing to say publicly.
“I’m not going to judge people for their what are essentially regarded at the time and intended as private conversations.â€
Responding Labour Party chairwoman Anna Turley said: “Danny Kruger’s interview tells voters everything they need to know about Reform’s judgment.
“He admitted Robert Kenyon’s comments were ‘unacceptable’, but then said he would not ‘police the previous remarks’ of their candidate. That is not leadership. It is a party making excuses for vile misogyny, violent rhetoric and conspiracy politics.
“Reform are trying to dress up chaos and extremism as straight-talking. Makerfield deserves better.
“Andy Burnham is the only candidate with the experience, values and determination to stand up for local people and deliver the fresh start this area needs.â€
