The kiss of death

I may have inadvertantly blighted the career of David Jordan, the BBC’s Director, Editorial Policy & Standards, by praising him here recently. 

But that's as nothing compared to what's recently befallen poor Laura K. She's received the blessing of the lad the pro-EU #FBPE mob especially love to hate - young Darren Grimes: 

I've never come across a more impartial, kind and courteous journalist than the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg. Who knows her politics? I haven't a clue. That's how it is and how it should be. The boos directed at her at this manifesto launch are chilling.

That won't go down well with the mob. 

Darren was, of course, talking about the Labour election launch, where (as you'll know) this happened:

Becky Long-Bailey: We have got some time for questions. I'll take them in rounds of three. And I don't need to tell this well-behaved audience, let the people who are putting the questions forward the full opportunity (sic) to have their questions heard, and please give Jeremy the opportunity to respond in full. And you'll get a gold star at the end of the day. 
Jeremy Corbyn: If you don't get a gold star you'll get a grim-faced badge.
Becky Long-Bailey: You'll get my angry face. You don't want that. 
Jeremy Corbyn: Ooooh!!
Becky Long-Bailey: So first up, we've got the BBC. Laura Kuenssberg. 

Boos from parts of the audience.

Jeremy Corbyn: No, no, no, no, sorry...
Becky Long-Bailey: No, no, no, no.
Jeremy Corbyn: Sorry. We don't do that. All journalists will be heard with respect. 

The bulk of the audience cheers and applauds.

I agree with Kate

On a similar theme:

Kate Hoey: So BBC PM news bulletin at 5pm can mention Soubry court case but not a word about the electoral commission losing case against Darren Grimes. Bet they would have covered it if judgement different.

I bet they would too.

Watertight oversight?

Fresh from his legal victory over the Electoral Commission yesterday, pro-Brexit campaigner Darren Grimes is turning his attention towards the BBC, who didn't report the story on last night's News at Ten or on Newsnight or on this morning's Today programme.

Here's a flavour of what Darren and his supporters are saying:

Darren Grimes‏: When biased Electoral Commission whacked me with their maximum fine and referred me to the police, their statement was all over BBC R4's Today and BBC News. Now I’ve won my Appeal against that decision, there’s nothing. They haven’t played my statement once. Should I be surprised?

Marcus Walker‏:  Did I miss BBC R4's Today's coverage of Darren Grimes's quashing of the Electoral Commission’s judgement against him? When the initial judgement and fine was issued, they led the news with that story, which caused a tidal wave of abuse to wash over him

Henry Newman‏: Serious issue. If newspapers mess up they must print prominent corrections. Yesterday courts quashed Electoral Commission Darren Grimes decision. This isn't quite the same as newspaper correction, but shouldn't BBC R4's Today give new story same prominence as original, Sarah Sands?

Possibly unwisely, the BBC's Chris Mason chose to chip in a comment:

Chris Mason: Hi Darren, I heard it being reported on The World Tonight last night.

To which came this reply: 

Darren Grimes: My statement?

Chris replied:

Chris Mason: From memory (I was doing the washing up at the time; I wasn’t working) the news bulletin reported what you’d said.

If you were wondering, The World Tonight gave the story a paltry 19 seconds:

The founder of the pro-Brexit campaign group BeLeave has won his appeal against a £20,000 fine imposed by the Electoral Commission. Darren Grimes, who set up the organisation with a focus on younger voters, had been accused of breaching spending rules during the Brexit referendum. He said he was delighted and relieved to be found innocent.

Now, do you think that does justice to Darren's statement?

pic.twitter.com/O4RUrqzcl5

— Darren Grimes (@darrengrimes_) July 19, 2019