Jesus christ, do you even understand the idea of being diplomatic?
"I think all women should be given equal opportunity to stand in a leadership contest as it is not based on gender" is a far better way of saying "I think Kendall and Cooper are ferking shiite"
If someone came up to you with a survey while you were talking with your friend who works in the NHS, you don't answer "Yes I agree to the 1% pay freeze" regardless of how strongly you believe in it. The same way telling your little sister to "Keep trying and practise" is a far better way of saying "Your voice is ****ing vexatious, shut your face"
Manners, man. He clearly knew them and didn't want to put them down. If the answer isn't "yes", it is either a straight no. Anything else is a socially desirable no (a nicer way of saying no)