Nolan ‘empty-chairs’ DUP for programme no-show
THE BBC’s Stephen Nolan yesterday challenged the DUP over how it could face down its political opponents and the Prime Minister on Brexit if it was not prepared to sit down for an interview with him.
The broadcaster ‘empty-chaired’ the party, devoting most of the “biggest show in the country” to the DUP and its manifesto — despite the party’s no-show.
He said the DUP had dragged its feet over committing to an interview ahead of Thursday’s General Election, with party officials “looking at it”.
“And here we are, no DUP,” he told Radio Ulster listeners.
“Usually political parties fight for an opportunity to be on the BBC to sell their manifestos.
“Every single party who were asked to have their manifesto scrutinised by the Nolan Show have agreed a date, except one. We think it is important to scrutinise their manifesto whether they are here or not.” He said he “deeply regretted” the fact that the party would not appear to answer his questions.
On Facebook the show broadcast live an image of an empty chair with the DUP manifesto sitting on it.
In recent weeks broadcasters have taken the decision to empty chair politicians over their refusal to appear on shows.
Sky News presenter Kay Burley interrogated an empty chair after Conservative chairman James Cleverly did not appear.
Channel 4 replaced the Prime Minister with an ice sculpture when he refused to take part in a climate change debate.
Ofcom said neither had breached rules on impartiality.
Boris Johnson was also criticised for refusing to be interviewed by the BBC’s Andrew Neil.
In all, Stephen Nolan dedicated an hour to the DUP manifesto. He questioned whether the party was “embarrassed” about how Prime Minister Boris Johnson had treated them, if its pursuit of Brexit had damaged the Union and why they were not ruling out working with the Conservative leader in the future given his treatment of the party which lauded him as a “friend of unionism”.
The DUP did not respond to a request for comment.
A BBC spokeswoman said: “The DUP was invited on to the programme but did not provide a representative.
“Stephen will continue to scrutinise manifestos and drill down into issues that matter to the public in the election run-up.”