Reform’s Robert Kenyon refuses to apologise after his misogynistic comments are read out to him on Question Time

Robert Kenyon refused to apologise on Question Time last night after misogynistic comments he made in the past were read out on air.

The Green Party candidate, Sarah Wakefield, told Kenyon it was “disgraceful” that he wouldn’t apologise, while his response prompted visible disapproval from the Question Time audience, with several female audience members shaking their heads.

The BBC Question Time host Fiona Bruce read out past comments made by the Reform candidate in Makerfield, saying: “You described yourself as sexist, you have made offensive comments about women, you’ve admitted that.”

She added: “You’ve also said ‘abortion is the cowardly act of women murdering defenceless babies’ and that ‘women do it so they can shag anyone they want’.”

Despite having said “I’m sexist, sorry I am”, Kenyon said he wouldn’t accept the label “sexist”.

The Reform candidate said that a lot of the things he said were 15 years ago, but Bruce reminded him that his remark about women having abortions was made two to three years ago.

Kenyon went on to say that he had been raised by a single parent, his grandmother and an older sister, adding “I’ve got nothing but respect for women”. 

He also claimed that the comments from the rugby forum were “taken out of context” and that he wouldn’t say them now.

The Green Party’s parliamentary candidate then interjected, stating: “Can I come in on this point though, because 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.”

In one comment online, Kenyon agreed with a comment another social media user made about wanting “smell & lick” Carol Vorderman’s “arsehole”. 

Vorderman has already called on Kenyon to apologise for his comments, but he refused to.

Wakefield called on Kenyon to look into the camera and apologise to Vorderman, who she said was watching at home tonight.

The Reform candidate did not apologise, and instead said “I never actually said anything to Carol, I commented on a comment”, admitting that it was a “disgusting” comment that the other person had made.

Bruce pressed Kenyon, stating that he had commented “with approval”, to which he responded “It was a crass joke and it’s not something I would say now”.

Wakefield then said: “Can I just say every woman in this room and at home has been subject to shaming whether in person or online.”

“And it’s disgusting”, Kenyon added.

The Green candidate responded “I think you’re proving my point”, before adding “we’ve all been subjected to it and the fact that men, a man like you cannot sit and do a simple apology, I think is disgusting”.

Olivia Barber is a reporter at Left Foot Forward