A TORY MP and GB News presenter is facing criticism after he appeared to ridicule Carol Vorderman over her appearance and marital status.
The former Countdown star was criticising Lee Anderson – the deputy chairman of the Conservative Party – on X/Twitter over his interview with Home Secretary Suella Braverman on GB News.
Responding to a post by Anderson, in which he claimed Braverman was “nailing it” on migration alongside a clip of him interviewing her on GB News, Vorderman questioned how such interviews between two Tory MPs adhered to Ofcom guidelines.
She said: “Tory Lee Anderson (paid £100k by GB News) ‘interviewed’ Tory Braverman, failing to challenge her on a single point.
“He says she was ‘nailing it’. GB News did their best to dress up the rest of the programme as debate, which may be enough for @ofcom not to consider a breach. Who knows?
“Meanwhile GB News has suspended 3 presenters in 2 days – has an investigation of its own into Wootton/Fox broadcast – and Ofcom admits it has 12 ongoing investigations into the channel. Rocky days.”
But Anderson appeared to take umbrage with Vorderman’s criticism.
He replied: “The sooner we ban single plastics the better”
The comment appears to be in reference to Vorderman’s unmarried status and rumours she has undergone cosmetic surgery.
The SNP MP John Nicolson drew attention to Anderson’s comments in light of the ongoing row surrounding misogynistic comments made by Laurence Fox on GB News earlier in the week.
Fox disparaged the journalist Ava Evans during an appearance on Dan Wootton’s GB News show on Tuesday night, asking: “Who would want to shag that?”
Both Fox and Wootton have since been suspended from GB News pending an investigation.
Nicolson said: “Following on from the GB News Fox Wootton misogyny furore here’s Tory vice Chair and GB News presenter Lee Anderson attacking @carolvorders for her appearance and marital status.
“(Presumably new BBC guidelines mean Carol can’t now defend herself)”.
The MP made reference to newly published BBC guidelines for on-screen talent, which prevent hosts from attacking political parties while a programme is on-air and for a two-week window before and after the broadcast of any series.
The guidelines were borne out of a scandal involving BBC presenter Gary Lineker, who was pulled off the air in March after criticising Home Secretary Suella Braverman’s language on migrants.
