Partygate peer Shaun Bailey accused of sexism over Carol Vorderman ‘boobs and bum’ remark

Your support helps us to tell the story

Support Now

Find out moreClose

Our mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.

Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.

Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.

Louise Thomas

Editor

Scandal-hit Tory peer Shaun Bailey has been accused of misogyny for telling Carol Vorderman she cannot talk about politics while posting pictures “of her bum and her boobs” on Instagram.

The failed London mayoral candidate, who attended a lockdown-breaking “jingle and mingle” Christmas party, said “she can’t be both”.

Speaking to GB News about the former countdown star, Lord Bailey said: “On one hand… she’s a serious political commentator, and then if you look at her Instagram it’s all pictures of her bum and of her boobs. So what is it here? She can’t be both.”

Ms Vorderman shared the clip on X, adding: “Tory Shaun Bailey is a misogynist.”

Lord Bailey was handed a peerage last summer in Boris Johnson’s resignation honours list. He came under intense pressure to turn it down after it emerged he had attended a mid-lockdown Christmas party at Conservative headquarters thrown by his mayoral campaign.

The event, invitations for which revealed it was called “jingle and mingle”, led to a total of 24 police fines.

He has previously apologised "unreservedly" for the event organised by his campaign team, and described it as a "serious error of judgment".

But Labour said Rishi Sunak should have blocked him from entering the upper chamber.

After his latest controversial outburst on Wednesday, Ms Vorderman said: “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 Sexist Shaun was made a Lord last year. Yet another Tory honour for dishonour.”

He is only the latest high profile Tory to publicly attack Ms Vorderman, who has become an outspoken critic of the party since Covid.

In a recent interview, she vowed to fight the party until it is removed from office. “If our kids are to have a future, we must kick them out,” she told The Times.

“If I can make a difference I’ll do everything I can to make that difference,” she added.

Tory veterans minister Johnny Mercer came under fire last month for saying Ms Vorderman has a “s*** lonely life”. And she has faced criticism from former Tory chairman Greg Hands, ex-MP Edwina Currie and energy minister Andrew Bowie.