“There’s a case to look at that again,” Burnham responded. “In a world where we do have serious challenges with knife crime, I think it needs to be looked at, although it needs a very careful debate,” he added.
Burnham also rejected accusations of two-tier policing in Greater Manchester, heaping praise on his Chief Constable Stephen Watson. He also highlighted Watson’s promise to “never take the knee.” No woke here.
5. Kenyon’s social media posts continue to haunt him
Other candidates in the debate rounded on Kenyon — a plumber who stood for Reform UK at the general election in 2024 — over his questionable online comments about women, the war in Ukraine and social policy.
Reform has stood by Kenyon, arguing that the remarks were made before he entered politics.
Kenyon on Thursday responded that his comments were “completely taken out of context,” adding: “I was brought up by women. I’ve got nothing but respect for women.”
But the Green candidate Sarah Wakefield said she’d spoken to presenter Carol Vorderman on Thursday morning after it was reported that Kenyon had made a sexualized comment about the broadcaster in 2021.