BBC moves to defend Whittingdale over escort allegations – despite his attempts to kill it

Last Updated: April 13, 2016By

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The BBC should be relishing this one, considering the way Whittingdale has been attacking the Corporation.

But, perversely, reporters are doing their best to help the Minister responsible for attacking them.

“It’s a story which you imagine most tabloid newspapers would be licking their lips to publish – and many people will find it curious that they chose not to do so,” writes deputy political editor Norman Smith.

“It’s quite possible that in the new climate after the Leveson Inquiry newspapers just thought ‘no way are we going anywhere near this’.”

Nonsense! This gives them control over Whittingdale, ensuring that the “new climate after the Leveson Inquiry” will not affect them.

Smith continues: “I suppose the irony here is that privacy campaigners are attacking the press now for, as it were, doing the right thing and not publishing a story about a man’s private life.”

No – the irony here is that the BBC is defending a man who wants to kill it.

Labour has called for Culture Secretary John Whittingdale to withdraw from press regulation decisions after news of his relationship with a sex worker.

Four newspapers knew about the relationship, which ended in 2014, but decided not to publish the story.

Shadow culture secretary Maria Eagle said it had left him “vulnerable” to pressure from the press.

Mr Whittingdale, who said he had not known she was a sex worker, said it had not affected any of his decisions.

Downing Street said Mr Whittingdale was “a single man entitled to a private life” and had the full confidence of the prime minister.

As culture secretary, Mr Whittingdale’s job is to regulate newspapers and he is currently overseeing a whole new regulatory framework under consideration in the wake of the Leveson Inquiry into press standards.

Ms Eagle said the Conservative minister should “recuse” himself from any further involvement in decisions relating to the inquiry.

Source: Labour calls to curb John Whittingdale’s powers after escort relationship – BBC News

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8 Comments

  1. mohandeer April 13, 2016 at 11:16 am - Reply

    Why is the BBC defending Whittingdale. A lot of speculation is going about regarding the leverage both the press and Whittingdale have and now it seems these speculations have more substance than was at first thought. How better to protect themselves against the Tories than to protect one of their Tory Politicians? Millions of people across the globe are now actively calling the BBC World News as a disinformation propagandist source, so they are most decidedly not beyond reproach.

  2. Terry Davies April 13, 2016 at 11:22 am - Reply

    its becoming clear the extent of corruption in the UK. tories are controlling the media by threats of withdrawing the gravy train for editors and CEOs and the directors.

  3. Dez April 13, 2016 at 11:41 am - Reply

    This is just more of the same Cons total lack of integrity or moral judgement just in yet another area of our lives showing us what they are made of. What a total shower..

  4. David April 13, 2016 at 12:22 pm - Reply

    The BBC knows that Whittingdale has its fate in his greasy paws and acts to appease him, just as Chamberlain did with Hitler. Osborne has already said that he plans a tory government which will last for ever and ever and will need the Beeb onside. Orwell, thou should’t be living at this hour.

  5. Brian April 13, 2016 at 1:14 pm - Reply

    There are certain Tory mantra’s that really do need re-defining.

    “Doing the right thing” is one. Exactly what is the right thing? From the Tory perspective it’s chanted to instill a sense of well being in what they do, well let’s attach a repugnant meaning, like encouraging deaths.

    “Hard working” like Cameron slaving over his tax haven portfolio. I’m just a little sick of the manipulative language that’s spreading through these people like a plague, it’s time to turn it against them.

  6. Art April 13, 2016 at 2:41 pm - Reply

    The woman was clearly smitten by Whittingdale’s Adonis-like physique.

    • Thomas Walker April 20, 2016 at 11:07 am - Reply

      And his wallet.

  7. mrmarcpc April 14, 2016 at 12:35 pm - Reply

    The BBC once again showing their biasness and spinelessness, and they still have the cheek to wonder why the public have lost all faith in them, time this joke of a corporation was gotten rid of!

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