Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Stewart was ‘drinking in the last chance saloon’
Newsreader had been warned by ITN bosses about social media use
ALASTAIR Stewart had previously been warned by ITN bosses about his inappropriate Twitter activity before his decision to step down after 40 years earlier this week.
Insiders at the news organisation stressed yesterday the newsreader had not left because of one isolated t weet, but because of a series of illjudged remarks to Martin Shapland – and others – which breached editorial guidelines.
One insider said: “Alastair was already drinking i n the l astchance saloon over his social media comments and this was simply the final straw. This is not about one tweet that has become public, but multiple breaches. It’s a real shame.”
The source said there had been a “sustained exchange” of inappropriate messages from Stewart to Mr Shapland, a policy manager. They added: “This is not the first time he’s been spoken to about the way he conducts himself on social media. The suggestion that he’s lost his job over one tweet is simply wrong.” In a statement i ssued on Wednesday, Stewart admitted he’d made, “a misjudgment which I regret”.
But he stopped short of apologising to Mr Shapland over his decision to use a Shakespeare quotation during a spat about the monarchy in which a man is compared to “an angry ape”.
Mr Shapland said Stewart was “a disgrace” for insulting him while hiding behind the verse. And ITN issued a statement saying he was stepping down fr om his role following “errors of judgment in [his] use of social media”.
Ye s t e r d a y, some colleagues called on bosses to reinstate the newsreader.
Ranvir Singh , the political editor of Good Morning Britain, said: “I would never use the word racist and his name in the same sentence. He has only ever been gracious and encouraging to me. We have had talks about how he and his wife have felt proud of what I have achieved.”
She added: “In my gut, I would put my house on it that not for one second did he write that quote thinking that it was in any way a slur on someone’s skin
ON STEWART TWITTER COMMENTS
colour.” Broadcaster Andrew Neil said: “Alastair Stewart – very smart, kindly, professional, impartial, knowledgeable, fun... Now the only person to be fired for quoting Shakespeare accurately. The only explanation can be the ITN suits wanted him out and seized their chance.”
Many of Stewart’s posts to Mr Shapland have now been deleted. But other broadcasters rallied to support him.
One, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “If they just want ed ri d of him, which these days just happens because you’re a bit old and a bit expensive, th ere are other, fairer ways.
“He’s senior, he’s well loved. He’s somebody who should have left in a blaze of glory. He’s one of the greats... Very, very senior journalists, broadcasters who either worked with him or know him through their jobs, are pretty appalled that this has happened to him.”
But the colleague conceded Stewart had made mistakes. They said: “Was it a very stupid thing to do? Yes. Was it insensitive? Yes. I can’t imagine that for a second he meant that in a racist way.
“He should have apologised. He could have apologised, come off Twitter. There are ways of showing mea culpa without having to end his career over it.”
Yesterday, Mr Shapland said he took “no pleasure” in Stewart leaving his post.
He said: “There was not a single post as has been widely reported, but several posts, which have all now been deleted.
“I understand Mr St ewar t has acknowledged the words he used were misjudged and has expressed regret at what happened. I thank him for that.
“No one is perfect. We are all human and we all need to learn from our experiences and mistakes and try to be better people i n the wa ke of th e m . An apology and commitment to be more careful about language was all that I would have asked.
“It is regrettable that he has decided to stand down and I take no pleasure in that.”
Critic Kate Maltby, who read all of the tweets between the pair, said: “I watched the actual exchange in real time – and it was much, much nastier than has been reported. It wasn’t just the ‘ape’ quote.”
Last night, Stewart’s agent had not responded to a request for comment.