Is this what it's come to? Right-wing politicians using their platforms to condemn the media?
The state of our political debate. On Wednesday, the PM effectively launched an attack on all MPs – blaming them for the pesky business of amendments and Parliamentary democracy. And now, an MP took over the floor of the House to call for a BBC journalist to be sacked.
On the Today programme this morning, presenter Jim Naughtie commented on the nature of political parties being coalitions under our current political system, whereas: “The ERG [European Research Group], Jacob Rees-Mogg’s group, in France would be in the National Front…and in Germany they would be in the AfD [Alternativ fur Deutschland]. It’s only because of our system that the carapace of this party keeps them in.”
While Brexiteers might not like being compared to France’s far-right party, it is quite astonishing that ERG-activist Mark Francois took to the Commons today to call for Jim Naughtie to be sacked.
Mark Francois called Jim Naughtie “a very very highly paid bigot” and demanded he apologise or get sacked by the end of the day.
He went on: “If the corporation do not take action against it, it proves what many of us have suspected…that the BBC are irremediably biased in Europhilia.”
Bercow rightly pointed out many Remainers feel the BBC is irredeemably biased in favour of Brexiteers. The Speaker said the Commons was not a place for ‘personal attacks’.
But he did add: “To suggest that there is any National Front allegiance [in the ERG] is quite wrong and in my opinion uncalled for. Let’s try and lower the decibel level.”
Brexiteers appear to have missed Nigel Farage’s appearance this morning – when he said without evidence that “a very, very clear majority” now support No Deal, he went unchallenged.
Let’s admit it: both sides think the BBC is biased. The BBC is just imperfect like everything else.
We’re with the Speaker on this one – let’s calm the tone of the debate a little…
Watch the exchangehere.
Josiah Mortimer is Editor of Left Foot Forward. Follow him on Twitter.
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6 Responses to “Brexiteer MP calls for Today programme presenter be sacked”
Michael Fitchett
So now Brexiters are so desperate they call for censorship of the media? How long before they want to close down the Guardian?
Cole
…or Left Foot Forward
Chester Draws
Remember this: Over 200,000 sign petition telling May to sack Toby Young. He’s got to go. That’s your flippin’ headline!
How about “Tell advertisers to boycott LBC until they sack Katie Hopkins”. Do you remember that one?
“Welsh education minister: ‘Callous, ignorant’ IDS should be sacked.”
MPs should not ask for presenters to be sacked. But given LFFs record of calling for sackings, no-platforming and the like, you’re looking at a mote while missing your own beam. You could at least try not to be hypocrites.
Patrick Newman
The accusation that the BBC favours remain in its editing of news programmes is absurd. The ERG/no-deal Brexiteers gets amazing coverage on Today, WatO and PM. Add this to the hard-line Brexiteers in the Cabinet like Fox and Leadsom and you could easily draw the opposite conclusion. When the no dealers appear on the programme they are allowed to broadcast the many falsehoods of a sudden break virtually unchallenged. But also when the May deal apparatchiks say the deal means end of free movement and we are leaving the EU they are not pulled up by presenters and reminded that the transition period means we can’t leave the EU until January 2021at the earliest. This is why so many have a problem with the May formula.
Patrick Newman
Mark Francois is the resident Tory Brexit Rottweiler!