Like father, like son as MP faces a grilling from Thompsons

SAMMY Wilson was hit by a double whammy yesterday as a veteran BBC Northern Ireland broadcaster and his reporter son lined up to interview the DUP Brexiteer.

BBC NI’s Noel Thompson and his Cambridge University graduate son Matthew (31), who is a reporter for London-based radio station LBC, by sheer chance both interviewed the MP on the same topic within a few minutes of each other.

“We didn’t know it was happening like that,” Thompson senior said last night.

“Matthew is a senior reporter with LBC, which he joined earlier this year after five years at BBC Newsnight. I think it’s the first time we’ve both had the same target for interview at the same time.

“It was good to see Sammy have a laugh about it as well — he was amused at being interviewed by father and son on the same subject on the same morning.

“We had Sammy (above) on Good Morning Ulster. I suppose we should have compared interviews afterwards to see if he had told us anything different!”

Mr Wilson faced criticism yesterday for comparing the draft Brexit deal to a “punishment beating”.

In an interview about with Sky News, Mr Wilson said: “This is all about a punishment beating for the UK because they dared to vote to leave the EU.

“And unfortunately the Prime Minister has allowed that punishment beating to be administered. That punishment beating in my belief will damage the UK and damage the UK constitution.”

Liberal Democrat Northern Ireland spokesman Alistair Carmichael criticised Mr Wilson’s choice of language as “completely unacceptable and potentially dangerous”.

He added: “Politicians set the tone. In this time of division and rancour we must debate with respect and care.”