THE BBC has been hit with a huge backlash on Twitter after political editor Laura Kuenssberg outed a father of a sick baby who confronted Boris Johnson about the NHS as a Labour activist.
Omar Salem tackled the Prime Minister as Johnson visited Whipps Cross University Hospital in north-east London.
Salem said the situation was "not acceptable" telling the Tory leader: "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."
On Twitter, Salem said his seven-day-old daughter had been admitted in a "gravely ill" state. He said: "Boris Johnson had the temerity to come to @WhippsCrossHosp 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 says repeatedly the ‘NHS has been destroyed’ - Johnson like rabbit in headlights pic.twitter.com/byRiXlD0ig
— Laura Kuenssberg (@bbclaurak) September 18, 2019
But she then said:
Turns out the man who challenged the PM is also a Labour activist
— Laura Kuenssberg (@bbclaurak) September 18, 2019
Kuenssberg then posted a link to the man's Twitter account. Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie tweeted:
It makes no difference what party he's in, and it's absurd that the BBC focusing on this instead of the blatant lie the Prime Minister told him on camera. https://t.co/uJqKazskWF
— Patrick Harvie 🇪🇺🌈 (@patrickharvie) September 18, 2019
Salem had accused Johnson of visiting the hospital for a 'press opportunity'. The Prime Minister replied "there's no press here" but Salem gestured to cameras filming the confrontation, and said: "What do you mean there's no press here, who are these people?"
Former Scottish Parliament presiding officer Tricia Marwick responded:
@bbclaurak You really need to find a soul and some empathy. A father with a very ill baby. He is emotional and scared and the fact that he is a supporter of a political party wouldn’t be his utmost consideration. He is worried about his child. Why is that difficult to understand? https://t.co/obKrm2f3PA
— Tricia Marwick (@TriciaMarwick) September 18, 2019
SNP MP Stewart McDonald simply said:
Wrong call.
— Stewart McDonald MP (@StewartMcDonald) September 18, 2019
SNP head of broadcast media Erik Geddes then nailed the hypocrisy by tweeting:
Q) Is this worse than a Tory MSP of 17 years masquerading as a member of the public on @bbcquestiontime, being invited to speak and allowed to attack the SNP - while not being identified?
— Erik Geddes (@erikgeddes) September 18, 2019
A) No, it’s not even in the same league. https://t.co/EEEkfxyERq
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