BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg is on the receiving end of controversy after she identified a father of a sick newborn baby who confronted Boris Johnson about the NHS in a viral video as a Labour activist.
Omar Salem criticised the prime minister of a “press opportunity” after he visited Whipps Cross University Hospital in London, where his seven-day-old daughter was admitted “gravely ill.”
In the video, which spread across social media like wildfire, Salem told Johnson:
There are not enough people on this ward, there are not enough doctors, there's not enough nurses, it's not well organised enough. The NHS has been destroyed...and now you come here for a press opportunity.
Later, on Twitter he explained: “Boris Johnson had the temerity to come to @WhippsCrossHops for a press opportunity on the children's ward that my 7-day old daughter is on, having been admitted to A&E yesterday gravely ill.”
Kuenssberg initially tweeted:
Another very, very awkward encounter for PM - taken to task by a parent on a children’s ward in London where he say… https://t.co/loUkV1NwZs— Laura Kuenssberg (@Laura Kuenssberg) 1568806688
Not long after, she identified Omar as a “Labour activist.”
@BBCPolitics Turns out the man who challenged the PM is also a Labour activist— Laura Kuenssberg (@Laura Kuenssberg) 1568814263
And posted a link to his Twitter profile.
This is him here https://t.co/77Hqqo9Avz— Laura Kuenssberg (@Laura Kuenssberg) 1568814338
This didn't go down well with some people online, who accused the BBC editor of targeting Salem.
Stewart McDonald, SNP MP was one of the first to condemn her.
@bbclaurak Wrong call.— Stewart McDonald MP (@Stewart McDonald MP) 1568824205
Others wrote to Kuenssberg, asking her why it was relevant that Omar was a Labour activist, given that he had been in the hospital as a parent.
@bbclaurak @BBCPolitics Hey Laura, I'm a Lib Dem member as well as a dad. Does that mean I can't be angry about the… https://t.co/PrflUy21RN— Tenacious Dave (@Tenacious Dave) 1568846889
It makes no difference what party he's in, and it's absurd that the BBC focusing on this instead of the blatant lie… https://t.co/7aR3PMLJTn— Patrick Harvie 🇪🇺🌈 (@Patrick Harvie 🇪🇺🌈) 1568816474
@bbclaurak @BBCPolitics Are you suggesting he arranged for his child of seven days to be seriously ill so he could… https://t.co/R8KOKN5r2O— The summers we shared (@The summers we shared) 1568846754
And others said Kuenssberg was “gaslighting” Omar.
@patrickharvie Absolute gaslighting in the most demonstrably ludicrous fashion.— Satirical Jeff O'le 🤨 (@Satirical Jeff O'le 🤨) 1568835511
And opening him up to targeted abuse.
Piers Morgan vehemently defended Laura's actions, calling her “superbly professional and impartial.”
This ludicrous #sacklaurakuenssberg campaign just about sums up the pathetic, fact-devoid, hysterical tribalism tha… https://t.co/u1sXSX5dcG— Piers Morgan (@Piers Morgan) 1568877091
Others argued that she was only doing her job.
@jameskirkup @rcolvile I think @bbclaurak is a top notch journalist. Most people in public life have difficult boun… https://t.co/T1Kxqi7oz0— Helena Morrissey DBE (@Helena Morrissey DBE) 1568837751
I know I’m going to get a few pelters for this, but the gigantic Twitter pile on against Laura Kuenssberg is appall… https://t.co/vL7yWzvIjC— James Melville (@James Melville) 1568847088
Twitter users pointed out that Kuenssberg wasn't the only one to tweet Omar's profile, ITV's Paul Brand did too - yet she's the only one getting abuse for it.
Paul Brand of ITV News tweeted about Omar Salem at pretty much the same time as Laura Kuenssberg did, yet it’s Laur… https://t.co/yhwx19jgMM— Tony McDonough (@Tony McDonough) 1568846256
Well said @jameskirkup. The only thing James doesn't include: Paul Brand of ITV tweeted almost the exact same thin… https://t.co/kEtJBWsmB6— KateMaltby (@KateMaltby) 1568844357
The incident is dividing the Internet.
That Laura Kuenssberg tweet. Please don't hound her for doing her job. She was right to report he was a Labour acti… https://t.co/q7votZjDAl— 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗕𝗿𝘂𝗰𝗲 𝙋𝙍 𝙁𝙪𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙩 🚀 (@𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗕𝗿𝘂𝗰𝗲 𝙋𝙍 𝙁𝙪𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙩 🚀) 1568849969
Once Salem's identity as a Labour activist came to light, he was met with a barrage of abuse online by Boris Johnson supporters.
In response, BBC released a statement defending its journalist:
Laura is a journalist who uses social media as part of her job.
Like many others, Laura quote tweeted a thread by Omar Salem, who had written himself about his encounter with the PM on social media and describes himself as a labour activist.
Any suggestion there was malicious intent behind her tweets are absurd.
BBC statement about Laura Kuenssberg https://t.co/qzO9eZMMOj— BBC News Press Team (@BBC News Press Team) 1568840276
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