Robert Kenyon won’t accept being labelled sexist amid social media posts row
Reform UK candidate Robert Kenyon has said he “won’t accept” being labelled as sexist and has “nothing but respect for women” amid a row over comments he reportedly made on social media.
The plumber faced backlash in recent weeks after several newspapers unearthed offensive remarks he previously made online, including on his stance on abortion.
Appearing on a special Makerfield by-election episode of BBC’s Question Time, the councillor admitted he has “made mistakes”.
Responding to a member of the audience who described Mr Kenyon as “sexist”, he said: “I won’t accept that label, I mean a lot of the things have been said 15 years ago.
“I hold my hands up, I’ve made mistakes…
“I was brought up by a single parent 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, you know, so I think something that’s said, you know, 15 years ago, dragged up from an old rugby forum, you know, it’s completely taken out of context.
“And like I say, I’ve made mistakes, I’ve said things years ago that I wouldn’t say now and I definitely don’t believe that, on that point.”
Mr Kenyon added: “I’ve got nothing but respect for women.”
It was reported in The i Paper that Mr Kenyon previously described abortion as a “cowardly act of murdering a defenceless baby”, and elsewhere appeared to suggest women advocated for access to the procedure so they can “shag anyone they want and if they get caught they get a second chance”.
The politician is also said to have responded to a sexually graphic post about TV presenter Carol Vorderman with a thumbs up and laughing emoji and a comment saying, “He’s only saying what we’re all thinking”.