Tory anger as BBC hands Starmer chance to attack PM’s statement
THE BBC’s decision to give Sir Keir Starmer a prime-time platform last night to attack Boris Johnson’s handling of the Covid-19 crisis triggered fury among Conservative MPs.
The Labour leader was given a ‘right of reply’ to the Prime Minister’s coronavirus statement made the night before at the same time of 8pm.
Mr Johnson did not make a party political attack in his address, but Sir Keir used the slot to brand Mr Johnson a ‘failure’.
The decision by the broadcaster infuriated Conservative MPs, who said the Prime Minister’s speech did not warrant a response.
‘ This is a completely bonkers BBC decision that flies in the face of all logic,’ said Richard Holden, the Tory MP for North West Durham.
‘When the Prime Minister speaks as Prime Minister, he speaks as the leader of our country, not for a party.’
Fellow Conservative MP Tom Hunt added: ‘This is clearly inappropriate. Politics aside, Boris Johnson is the Prime Minister during a global pandemic. It is clearly appropriate for the figure who holds this office to be able to communicate with the public. How does Starmer being given a platform to launch a political attack at this stage help the nation and the public?
‘This does raise questions about the BBC and their impartiality. A lot of people will see this as very peculiar.’
In his address last night, Sir Keir said he supported the coronavirus measures announced by the Prime Minister. However, he also used his platform to make a political attack on the Government, accusing it of failure.
He said: ‘The return of this virus, and the return of restrictions, are not an act of God. They’re a failure of Government. The British people have done everything asked of them. But I’m afraid the Government has not.’
In an accompanying BBC interview, he argued that the country does not have the leadership it needs. He said of the Prime Minister: ‘I don’t think he has got the right character for this and I don’t think he is up to it.’
Labour has recently made a concerted effort to boost its profile on the airwaves, with senior figures taking up radio slots and Sir Keir planning monthly press conferences.
Asked whether Mr Johnson supported the broadcaster’s decision to give Sir Keir a platform, the Prime Minister’s spokesman said: ‘That’s entirely a matter for the BBC.’ A BBC spokesman said: ‘ Under the BBC Charter and Agreement, the Government can require the BBC to transmit a ministerial broadcast.
‘In those circumstances, under its Editorial Guidelines, the BBC has to consider whether to offer other parties the opportunity to respond. There has been a response on every occasion since the Suez crisis, bar one.’
Last night Sir Keir also suggested he could back Nicola Sturgeon’s bid to hold a second Scottish independence referendum – putting the union in peril as soon as next year.
He refused to withdraw comments he made earlier this year when he said the SNP would have a ‘ mandate’ for another poll if it wins the Holyrood elections in May 2021.
Boris Johnson has vowed to block a second vote, which can only go ahead if Parliament rubber stamps it.
Challenged on his comments, Sir Keir refused six times to say he would join the PM in blocking the divisive poll, although he said Labour opposes Scottish independence.
Asked again to give a straight answer, he said: ‘I am setting out the argument we will make in May. I am not doing a hypothetical of what will happen after that.’
‘People will see this as very peculiar’