Osborne sticks up for Beeb’s brilliant Brillo

Lord Adonis — an ex-Labour Cabinet minister who the Tories made head of the body overseeing UK infrastructure strategy — has been ridiculed for demanding the dismissal of the BBC’s most respected political anchorman.

The controversial policy guru complained to Corporation chiefs that Andrew Neil — nicknamed ‘Brillo’ — is ‘too pro-Brexit’.

referring to the 68- year- old Scot’s ‘journalistic and propaganda talents’, he argued that Neil’s views ‘breach [the BBC’s] duty of impartiality’.

This unfounded and outrageous attempt at censorship has led to a vociferous backlash.

Even anti-Brexit cheerleader George osborne has leapt to Neil’s defence against Adonis who, as schools minister, was called ABA ( Andrew Bloody Adonis) by his colleagues.

In an editorial in the London Evening Standard, which he edits, the former Chancellor described Neil as ‘one of Britain’s greatest journalists’, saying his interviews ‘penetrate the defences of illprepared politicians not because they are ferocious but because he does his research’.

It rejected the claims that Neil is anti-EU, saying: ‘It doesn’t stand up. He sticks it to all-comers.’

osborne knows this to his cost. during his six years as Chancellor, he (with boss david Cameron), was reluctant be to be interviewed by Neil despite many invitations.

He did consent during the EU referendum campaign. It was a bruising experience — challenged on Project Fear scare stories about Brexit’s effect on pensions, house prices and family incomes.

osborne admitted he should have stuck to his ‘no Neil interviews’ policy — and was sacked from the Cabinet weeks later.