‘Question Time gave hard-left website a boost’
THE BBC has been accused of legitimising a hard-left website denounced for peddling fake news by inviting its editor onto Question Time.
Kerry-anne Mendoza, editor of the Jeremy Corbyn-supporting website The Canary, was invited on to Thursday’s programme despite controversies over the veracity of articles she has published.
During Thursday’s show, Liam Fox, the International Trade Secretary, who was also a panellist, accused her of trying to “smear” him with a reference to his controversial relationship with his friend Adam Werritty.
Julian Knight, the Conservative MP and former BBC reporter, raised the issue in the House of Commons, asking the Culture Secretary Karen Bradley whether she agreed that “broadcasters, particularly those in receipt of licence fee money, should confront rather than cosy-up to politically motivated websites that purvey fake news”. Ms Bradley replied that Mr Knight “makes a very important point, and I am sure it will have been heard by those he refers to”.
Last month The Canary published, then later deleted, an incorrect story claiming The Sun had been guilty of “a naked manipulation of tragic events” by running a frontpage story attacking Jeremy Corbyn’s terrorist links on the day after the Manchester terrorist attack. In fact, The Sun had changed its front page to report on the attack as the news broke that night.
During Question Time, Ms Mendoza said she was surprised Dr Fox’s place hadn’t been taken by Mr Werritty.
Dr Fox resigned as defence secretary in 2011 after it emerged that Mr Werritty, who was best man at his wedding, accompanied him on 18 foreign business trips.
A BBC spokesman said: “The Question Time panel has always reflected a broad spectrum of political opinion.”