BBC reporter says sorry for ‘defending’ Britain remark

A BBC reporter has acknowledged that his “choice of language was poor” after saying on-air that Britain is “defending itself against migrants”.

Michael Keohan, a BBC political journalist for Kent, was reporting live from Manston on Thursday when he said: “This will be one of the places where the Home Secretary will come to see for herself exactly how Britain is defending itself on the frontline against migrants.”

People were quick to take issue with Mr Keohan’s choice of wording when describing the ongoing migrant crisis, such as saying “defending” and “frontline”, which is reminiscent of wartime rhetoric.

Many also pointed out the similarities between his choice of language and the recently reinstated Home Secretary’s when she described Channel crossings as an “invasion on our southern coast” just one day after a migrant detention centre was fire-bombed in Dover.

A BBC spokesman said: “The reporter acknowledges that during a live insert for BBC News his choice of language was poor.” However, yesterday afternoon, Mr Keohan tweeted: “Residents at Aycliffe tell me of having to defend themselves against several migrant beach landings. They say until recently it wasn’t taken as seriously.”