Vine accused of Twitter bullying after row with anti-LTN group

Presenter’s post in defence of cycling activist who had dead flowers left on her doorstep sparks anger

JEREMY VINE has been reported to the BBC over his social media use following claims that he “bullied and intimidated” campaigners opposed to low traffic neighbourhoods.

In a row nicknamed Tulipgate, the Radio 2 presenter posted an image on his Twitter account of flower heads laid out on a doormat at a neighbour’s home in West London, alleging that campaigners had “decapitated flowers”.

The broadcaster, a cycling campaigner, wrote: “A woman in my area has been relentless in arguing for safe cycling. She has had much abuse from the local anti-cycling group which is raising £50,000 to get our new cycle lane torn out. Yesterday, she woke to find all the flowers in her front garden had been decapitated.”

Now, a leading member of One Chiswick, opposed to road closures and pop-up cycle lanes, has written to the Tim Davie, the BBC director-general, complaining that Vine, 55, had made unfounded “libellous and defamatory” claims against them.

Margie Frew says Vine has suggested group members “committed criminal acts, including trespass, vandalism, intimidation and harassment”.

The row is the latest example illustrating how divided communities have become over Grant Shapps’s so-called “green transport revolution”, a policy meant to promote walking and cycling.

After seeing the tweet, Jo Rigby, a Wandsworth Labour councillor in favour of the Tory’s “low-traffic neighbour” (LTN) policy, set up a Just Giving page to help replace the flowers. More than £2,600 has been raised by cyclists, including a donation from British Olympian Chris Boardman.

Ms Frew insists that Vine, who has 750,000 Twitter followers, has unfairly described One Chiswick members as “anti-cycling”. The group says it is exercising the “democratic right” to oppose LTNs. The letter explains how Vine did not name the group directly, but “it can only be that he meant it to be the resident group One Chiswick, which he claims is anti-cycling”.

She says he has “no evidence” to back up his claims anyone in the group cut the heads off at least 30 flowers.

“Mr Vine believes he could make these inflammatory accusations without fear of repercussion,” she wrote.

“You will appreciate that these assertions are, unless proven, not only libellous and defamatory, but seeking to bully, intimidate and control people.”

She says the alleged victim of the “floral crime”, a former BBC employee, used social media in the past to complain how squirrels have in fact “decapitated” her tulips during spring time.

Demanding an apology from Vine,

‘You will appreciate that these assertions are seeking to bully, intimidate and control people’

Ms Frew says the broadcaster is “prepared to engage in the promotion of lies, as well as potentially being involved in the fabrication of evidence to bully, intimidate and defame myself and others”.

She adds: “It would appear that Mr Vine feels emboldened, confident that the BBC guidelines bear no teeth and he can ignore them.”

A BBC spokesman said its executive complaints unit was dealing with the issue, adding: “Jeremy is aware of his duty under the BBCs social media guidelines.”

These stress the importance of maintaining the corporation’s reputation for impartiality by ensuring comments do not show they are “influenced by personal interest or bias”. Breach of the guidance can lead to disciplinary action.

Vine failed to respond to requests for a comment.