Poor are suffering more, says BBC Maitlis
EMILY Maitlis has criticised politicians for ‘misleading’ comments about the coronavirus crisis and warned the lowest-paid members of society are suffering the most.
The presenter made the outspoken comments during the opening of BBC2’s Newsnight on Wednesday evening. She lashed out at politicians who suggested that ‘strength of character’ could beat the virus when referring to Boris Johnson while he was being treated in intensive care.
The 49-year-old was later commended by viewers for speaking in a ‘powerful’ and candid way, but others questioned whether she had breached BBC impartiality rules.
In her one-minute speech, she hit out at suggestions that the virus was impacting everyone equally. She said: ‘The language around Covid-19 has sometimes felt trite and misleading. You do not survive the illness through fortitude and strength of character whatever the Prime Minister’s colleagues will tell us.’ She added: ‘The disease is not a great leveller, the consequences of which everyone – rich or poor – suffers the same.
‘This is a myth which needs debunking. Those on the frontline right now – bus drivers and shelf-stackers, nurses, care home workers, hospital staff and shopkeepers – are disproportionately the lowest-paid members of our workforce. They are more likely to catch the disease because they are more exposed.’ She insisted: ‘Those who live in tower blocks and small flats will find the lockdown a lot tougher.’
Miss Maitlis added: ‘Those who work in manual jobs will be unable to work from home. This is a health issue with huge ramifications for social welfare. And it’s a welfare issue with huge ramifications for public health.’
Many viewers praised her. John Hurst tweeted: ‘This is sharp, concise, eloquent, powerful and timely journalism.’
However, Adam Smith tweeted: ‘Emily Maitlis and the BBC are meant to be impartial observers. It is not in their remit to start preaching about Government policy and the words ministers use.’ Last night watchdog Ofcom said it had received no complaints. The BBC declined to comment.