Fox attacks BBC over coverage ‘harming’ trade deals
INTERNATIONAL TRADE Secretary Liam Fox has attacked the BBC and other media organisations for preferring to see “Britain fail than see Brexit succeed”.
Brexiteer Dr Fox made the comments in response to concerns that negative media coverage was undermining his efforts to make trade deals with countries outside the EU.
Labour veteran Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield) said it was a “silly attack” on the BBC and called for the minister to resign amid claims he had lost the confidence of manufacturers for “living in cloud cuckoo land” over Britain’s future.
Former Commons deputy speaker Nigel Evans raised concern about the impact of negative press coverage over Brexit on future trade deals with Commonwealth countries.
Speaking during international trade questions in the Commons, the Ribble Valley MP said: “I think the potential for trade with Commonwealth countries is very exciting, growing economies, strong economies, but every time I open a newspaper or listen to the radio or TV, the story is done very negatively, almost as if it’s going to be impossible for us to do these trade deals. Do you feel that is both wrong and undermines the work that you are doing?”
Dr Fox replied: “It does appear that some elements of our media would rather see Britain fail than see Brexit succeed. I cannot recall a single time in recent times when I have seen good economic news that the BBC didn’t describe as ‘despite Brexit’.”
His comments came after Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom called for broadcasters to be “a bit patriotic” during an interview with BBC Newsnight last month. Mr Sheerman said attacks on the media must not be used “as an excuse for policy” as he told Dr Fox that manufacturers had no confidence in him.
International Trade minister Mark Garnier, replying for the Government, said he would take note of the comments.