The BBC has been accused of breaching impartiality rules after Laura Kuenssberg appeared to call for Suella Braverman to be sacked live on air.
During a BBC1 interview with Grant Shapps in which she directly asked whether Braverman should be sacked, Kuenssberg said: “We will see what the next couple of days bring, because I think words do matter, and it does matter very much who sits around the Cabinet table.”
One interpretation of her words is that Braverman’s Op-Ed in which she laid into the Met Police, was a sackable offence and that her days as Home Secretary are numbered.
WATCH HERE: Laura Kuenssberg gets tough with Grant Shapps as she appears to call for Braverman to be sacked live on air
Kuenssberg’s comment sparked major backlash from several senior Tory MPs, who demanded the BBC investigate the programme.
Former Deputy Chief Whip Craig Whittaker said: “Laura Kuenssberg seems so far over the line for a journalist, she should be investigated - it seems totally beyond the code for journalists and should be investigated to see whether she has breached the code.”
Former Transport Minister Kevin Forster added: “It is the broadcaster’s role to question those who sit round the Cabinet Table, not express their preferences to try and decide who does.”
Daniel Kawczynski MP said: “Laura’s credibility as an impartial effective journalist has been questioned on many occasions and this is the latest example of her not understanding the remit of her role.
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Over 100 people were arrested on Armistice Day
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“I urge her employers to consider disciplinary actions otherwise, the quality of journalism will continue to be brought into disrepute.”
When asked about the BBC’s liability, he added: “The BBC equally to blame as it allows Laura Kuenssberg to act as an opposition politician on air rather than an impartial professional commentator.
“Standards at BBC have collapsed but then again I think most people realise that and why numbers watching BBC on decline.
“Time we abolished the extra tax licence fee we all have to pay for this bureaucracy and poor service.”
Ahead of Armistice Day, the Home Secretary defied the Prime Minister by writing a piece in The Times attacking the police in a piece that was 'not cleared' by No10
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Kuenssberg’s interview with Shapps came after protests threatened to overshadow Armistice Day events.
Two thousand officers were mobilised throughout the capital to help control both pro-Palestinian protesters as they marched towards the US embassy and counter protesters.
Met Police confirmed nine officers were injured yesterday after a group of protesters breached police lines in a bid to “defend the Cenotaph”.
Rishi Sunak has condemned the events that erupted yesterday as “violent” and “wholly unacceptable”.
Asking Shapps directly whether Suella Braverman should resign, the Defence Secretary said: “I don’t know the ins and outs of how the article was published in this particular case and the Prime Minister is in charge of whoever he wants in his cabinet and he will make that decision whenever he wants to reshuffle or whether he doesn’t want to reshuffle his cabinet, I don’t come with new news on that front.”
Shapps dodged the question when asked whether Suella Braverman should resign
BBC
Social media users also picked up on the comment.
One user wrote: “The BBC and Laura Kuenssberg desperately trying to get rid of Suella Braverman this morning.
“No, Laura, Braverman did *not* ‘prompt’ the debate with her remarks. The debate had been running for weeks before she made her remarks a few days back.”
Another user said: “But of course Laura Kuennsberg says that the Met say that the violence yesterday was caused by Suella Braverman’s comments & that she needs to be sacked & presses Grant Shapps to say that Israel is overreacting and bombing indiscriminately.
“Of course - BBC & Kuennsberg - typical”
A third user wrote: “Laura Kuenssberg interviewing Grant Shapps it would appear she’s after the Home Secretary’s dismissal unfortunately her views & attitude do not sit well with me.”
When approached for comment, the BBC denied Laura Kuenssberg had shown bias, adding: “The interview included questions around the Home Secretary’s recent comments on the Met, which have been covered extensively across the media in recent days.”