UPDATE:
BBC Says Newsnight Breached Impartiality Guidelines With Emily Maitlis’ Dominic Cummings Monologue
Newsnight host Emily Maitlis has been widely praised for reading the public mood in her summing up of the Dominic Cummings controversy.
The presenter opened Tuesday night’s edition of the current affairs programme with a monologue about the backlash to the government aide’s 260-mile lockdown trip to his parents’ house in Durham, amid increasing pressure for him to resign.
Maitlis began by simply saying: “Dominic Cummings broke the rules.”Emily @maitlis has become the conscience of the nation. We should all be very thankful that she's there.👏👏👏#cummings#SpeakTruthToPowerpic.twitter.com/74jsuW77d4—
Brexit Bin 🇪🇺 #NotMyBrexit (@BrexitBin) May 27, 2020She continued: “The country can see that, and it’s shocked the government cannot.
“The longer ministers and the prime minister tell us that we worked within them, the more angry the response to this scandal is likely to be.
“He was the man, remember, who always got the public mood, who tagged the lazy label of ‘elite’ on those who disagreed. He should understand that public mood one now: one of fury, contempt and anguish.
“He made those who struggled to keep to the rules feel like fools, and has allowed many more to assume they can now flout them.”She added: “The prime minister knows all this, and despite the resignation of one minister and growing unease from his backbenchers, a dramatic early warning from the polls, and a deep national disquiet,
Boris Johnson has chosen to ignore it.”
Clips of Maitlis’ monologue swiftly began circulating online, with many impressed with her firm stance on the controversy. Truly excellent from @maitlis exercising the freedom to say two plus two make four:pic.twitter.com/yHwOTNvEQb— Sian Berry (@sianberry) May 27, 2020Nope. It is NOT an opinion Dominic Cummings broke the rules. It is a FACT. @maitlis spoke the truth & facts. She's spot on to do so.This is TOTALLY acceptable. I would not expect less from the BBC #newsnight or Maitlis.— Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu (@SholaMos1) May 27, 2020If you had an early night last night, you missed this sledgehammer of an opening monologue from Emily Maitlis on #newsnight. pic.twitter.com/zjMd5gAnTe— Jim Fraser Rae (@JimFraserRae) May 27, 2020She’s done it again @maitlis saying it as it is and perfectly sums up the nation’s increasing anger at a government that has one rule for us and another rule for themselves. ‘He made those who struggled to keep the rules look like fools’. #cummings#stayelite@BBCNewsnighthttps://t.co/XaCSap9tu9— Monica Harding (@monicabeharding) May 27, 2020OK, that is an opening... @maitlis tells it how it is. pic.twitter.com/1J3CMWHVpO— Nearly Legal (@nearlylegal) May 26, 2020‘He made those who struggled to keep to the rules feel like fools and has allowed many more to assume they can now flout them. The prime minister knows all this and has chosen to ignore it.’ Savage brilliance from @maitlis#newsnightpic.twitter.com/1tX879ICqZ— Jonathan Lis (@jonlis1) May 26, 2020The Emily Maitlis Miracle MK2. These words were brilliant and most definitely needed. This needs to be the new norm.‘He made those who struggled to keep to the rules feel like fools and has allowed many more to assume they can now flout them. #BBCBreakfast#SkyNews#GMBpic.twitter.com/PagjxAeC31— Jon Jones (@JonJonesSnr) May 27, 2020emily @maitlis sums up Cummings perfectly on #Newsnightpic.twitter.com/CLOGNdCtkp— sources close to michael segalov (@MikeSegalov) May 26, 2020Honestly I cannot think of a better team than @maitlis and @lewis_goodall in
British TV journalism at the moment. Excellent work throughout all of this #Newsnight— Carl Stanton (@Captain_Carlos) May 26, 2020I am often quite cross with BBC News, but Emily Maitlis is often its very best asset. https://t.co/cbUBhP7VLB— Robin Ince (@robinince) May 26, 2020“Dominic Cummings broke the rules. The country can see that. (...) We don't expect to be joined by a Government Minister, but that won't stop us asking the questions."Absolutely love @maitlis' blatantly honest tone on #Newsnight. More of this please! 👏 pic.twitter.com/8oExJEEtRO— Dominic Buxton (@MrDominicBuxton) May 26, 2020Astonishingly good #Newsnight tonight. Proper journalism of the highest standard from @maitlis@lewis_goodall@nicholaswatt— Ed (@Reached) May 26, 2020In a press conference on Monday, Cummings argued that his journey to Durham in March was justified as he sought to protect his family’s health.
But many questions remained unanswered, including over his subsequent drive to Barnard Castle which he said was to test his eyesight after it was affected by Covid-19.
Despite continued public unrest, the government has continued to back Cummings, with prime minister Boris Johnson refusing to
fire his senior aide.
Newsnight airs weeknights at 10.45pm on BBC Two. READ MORE: Emily Maitlis Says She Channelled Line Of Duty Character For Infamous Prince Andrew Interview 'The Disease Is Not A Great Leveller': Newsnight's Emily Maitlis Debunks 'Trite'
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