03 January 2024 , 15:46
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TV legend Carol Vorderman has called out failed Tory mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey for "sexist" comments after his rant over her Instagram posts.
It came as the Tory peer, who lost his bid against Sadiq Khan in 2021 for City Hall, attempted to question the former Countdown host's credibility as a "serious political commentator".
Appearing on GB News last week, he said: "Look on one hand she's got all that stuff, you know, she's a serious political commentator, and then if you look at her Instagram it's all pictures of her bum and her boobs. So what is it here? She can't be both".
Responding to the rant on Twitter /X, Ms Vorderman accused Lord Bailey of misogyny over his comments. She posted: "So Shaun thinks that women who wear lycra in the gym shouldn't be allowed a political opinion.... or I assume a vote! Failed Mayoral candidate #SexistShaun was made a Lord last year. Yet another Tory honour for dishonour".
Tory peer Shaun Bailey appearing on GB News last weekThe presenter was also backed by the journalist Ava Evans - the target of vile comments from the former actor Laurence Fox on GB News last year. She posted on social media: "Really exhausting to see this said about [Carol Vorderman]. It’s so easy to use your interview time to go for someones arguments, yet he can’t help himself but go for her body."
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Lord Bailey, who was handed his peerage by ex-PM Boris Johnson, was photographed at the infamous lockdown-busting 'Jingle and Mingle' Christmas bash in Tory HQ in 2020 which led to police fines. At the time he apologised "unreservedly" for the event organised by his campaign team, and said it was a "serious error of judgment".
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The Tory peer's remarks on GB News on 28 December came as he was defending Veterans' Minister Johnny Mercer amid a row last week with Ms Vorderman. Mr Mercer had hit out at the presenter and his Labour election rival Fred Thomas after they shared figures revealing a rise in homelessness among armed forces veterans. Mr Thomas, a former Royal Marine, said he was "furious" and asked if Mr Mercer would apologise for his "abject failure".
Ms Vorderman shared the Labour candidate's post, sparking an angry reaction from the top Tory. Veterans' Minister Mr Mercer accused them of "deliberately misleading" the public "because that makes your s*** lonely life feel better."
Lord Bailey said: "In a recent panel discussion, I used a clumsy form of words to describe Carol Vorderman’s Instagram posts." He claimed he was trying to make the point that "Carol lives in a world of glitz and celebrity" but "bullies those who hold different political views to her own".