Robert Kenyon is Reform UK’s candidate in the Makerfield by-election. Kenyon recently experienced criticism for comments he made about Carol Vorderman. Now, after several days of hiding from media scrutiny, Kenyon has decided to double down:

NEW: Reform UK Makerfield candidate Robert Kenyon has refused to apologise for his comment about Carol Vorderman

“It was a crude attempt at a joke to probably about 50 followers… if you go into any building site, I think you’d hear a hundred times worse said” pic.twitter.com/vHA33K0ez5

— Politics UK (@PolitlcsUK) May 28, 2026

Reform candidate doubles down

People have argued Kenyon could move past this controversy by simply saying sorry. After all, we live in a time in which most people have said something online they later came to regret. Many would understandably see his comments as a red line, of course, but an apology would at least demonstrate that he understands the rules of society; that he’s not just some sort of freak.

Instead of apologising, however, Kenyon said the following in conversation with the Manchester Evening News (MEN):

I’m not a polished politician.

I am rough around the edges. I have made mistakes in my life. I’m not perfect. Nobody is. Not a single person in the world is perfect.

I think everybody does say things that eventually they regret. It was a crude attempt at a joke to probably about 50 followers.

No offence was meant, and it’s not something I’d do now.

Is it really so hard to say ‘sorry’?

He wouldn’t even have to mean it; it’s not like we can read the guy’s mind.

Clearly, Kenyon is copying the ‘never apologise’ mentality of Donald Trump. The issue Kenyon will have is that he lacks the force of personality which allowed Trump to get away with it (not to mention the billions of dollars in the bank).

You’ll note Kenyon said “no offence was meant” too. This might work in some cases, but not when the comment was “I’d love to smell and lick your ars*hole”. If he doesn’t understand such a comment might cause offence, then the guy has the emotional intelligence of a tin opener.

Oh, and the comments from Kenyon got worse too.

On the attack

Kenyon also said:

There’s been a lot of noise about this indirect, sort of vulgar tweet that I’ve made, but I’ve not heard much about Carol’s thoughts on Labour not having the grooming gangs inquiry last year or what she thinks about biological males being allowed into single sex spaces.

Sorry, but does he expect Carol Vorderman to apologise to him? Over things she may or may not have even said?

Is this guy for real?

When the MEN asked if he’d like to apologise, Kenyon responded:

I think I’ve addressed the issue.

“Think” might be a strong description for what’s going on here, honestly.

Offence taken

Kenyon added:

I think that no offence was meant and it wasn’t a direct comment to her. If you go into any building site in the area or any public barracks, I think you’d hear a hundred times worse said.

It was just, like I said, a crass attempt at a joke and it’s not something I’d make now.

Why would he not make the joke now?

Does he think it was out of order?

And if so, isn’t an apology is in order?

This issue isn’t the only one Kenyon and Reform should apologise for either, as we’ve reported:

• Reform deploys ‘suspended’ antisemite to Makerfield by-election campaign.
• Reform’s Kenyon said ‘Russia within rights to invade Ukraine’.
• Reform’s Robert Kenyon: ‘Women get abortions for vanity’.
• Reform’s Makerfield candidate was a Remainer.
• Reform is pretending its Makerfield candidate was Action Man.

We’re not sure where Reform found this guy, but hopefully they drop him back there once he’s done losing this by-election.

Featured image via Jeff Spicer (Getty Images)

By Willem Moore

From Canary via This RSS Feed.