There’s more than a little outrage this morning as Sky News and the BBC deploy their usual questionable reporting on killed Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. In Sky correspondent Alex Crawford’s analysis she said he was “a very moderate leader“. Moderate in an antisemitic Islamofascist kind of way presumably…
The BBC calls now-dead Haniyeh “moderate and pragmatic” while Reuters describes Haniyeh’s “tough talking“. The thousands of victims of Hamas were not on the receiving end of moderate pragmatism…
Huw Edwards pleaded guilty to three accounts of making indecent images of children. The BBC presenter admitted having 41 indecent images of children, seven of which were category A images, the most serious classification of indecent images defined in UK law as involving penetrative sexual activity. He will be sentenced on 16th September. Guido reminds co-conspirators of those who leapt to his defence when it first came out. Where are his outriders now…
UPDATE: The BBC releases a statement:
“The BBC is shocked to hear the details which have emerged in court today. There can be no place for such abhorrent behaviour and our thoughts are with all those affected.
The police have confirmed that the charges are not connected to the original complaint raised with the BBC in the summer of 2023, nevertheless in the interests of transparency we think it important to set out some points about events of the last year.
In November 2023, whilst Mr Edwards was suspended, the BBC as his employer at the time was made aware in confidence that he had been arrested on suspicion of serious offences and released on bail whilst the police continued their investigation. At the time, no charges had been brought against Mr Edwards and the BBC had also been made aware of significant risk to his health.
]Today we have learnt of the conclusion of the police process in the details as presented to the court. If at any point during the period Mr Edwards was employed by the BBC he had been charged, the BBC had determined it would act immediately to dismiss him. In the end, at the point of charge he was no longer an employee of the BBC.
During this period, in the usual way, the BBC has kept its corporate management of these issues separate from its independent editorial functions.
We want to reiterate our shock at Mr Edwards’ actions and our thoughts remain with all those affected.”
Labour’s honeymoon is pretty much over. Reeves’ speech on Monday went down like a cup of cold sick, particularly the headline announcement of scrapping the social care cap, which has led to Labour being dubbed “the nastier party.” Even Tory-bashing, Labour luvvie Carol Voderman couldn’t defend the Reeves package on LBC when a pensioner called in, vowing to “never vote Labour again” after this move. Carol getting a brutal introduction to reality…
Meanwhile, the Southport stabbings have sparked riots outside a mosque, with hundreds throwing bricks, masonry, and fireworks at police officers and Starmer faced a hostile reception while laying flowers at the attack site, met with cries of “You can’t do sh*t!” from the enraged crowd. ‘I was DPP…’…
Labour attempted to blame the Tories for the ‘surprise’ (definitely not a surprise) £22 billion black hole, despite Reeves claiming the figure was £71 billion of unfunded Tory plans just last month. Now, the harsh reality is setting in, and Labour is preparing to fall back on their usual (and unpopular) strategy: whack up taxes. Which Reeves herself has made headlines admitting…
Ismail Haniyeh, the high-profile political leader of Hamas, has been assassinated in Tehran. Haniyeh, a pivotal figure in hostage negotiations and the most senior Hamas official operating outside Gaza, was reportedly struck by an “airborne projectile” last night. The Iranian establishment was quick to point the finger at the ‘Zionists,’ with state media openly implicating Israel and a senior member of the Revolutionary Guard labelling the killing a declaration of war on Iran. Though Russia and Turkey have condemned the assassination, saying it will escalate tensions, Lloyd Austin, the US defence secretary, said that wider war is “not inevitable”…
The Guardian has just published a stinging piece on Tory Leader hopeful Kemi Badenoch citing bullying allegations from a former SpAd. The article has reportedly been “months in the making”, and it appears Political Editor Pippa Crerar wasn’t shying away from asking former employees to dish dirt. Guido’s seen the text that has been sent to junior civil servants:
The same text was sent to another civil servant, who is said to be “shaken-up” after the approach from the Guardian. A Badenoch ally says:
“This is a total fishing expedition by the Guardian who have targeted young, female civil servants to try and unsettle them. The shamelessness of referencing the Raab hatchet-job just confirms how much of a reach the whole thing is.”
Kemi’s claws will be out…
Yesterday was a tough today for the hardline centrist hacks who rushed to Huw Edwards’ defence after allegations he paid a child for indecent images surfaced. As the Metropolitan Police confirmed BBC presenter Huw Edwards was charged with three accounts of making explicit photos, the lefty pundits look rather silly for slamming The Sun for surfacing the scandal and running to Huw’s defence. Guido has browsed through the archives of these supposed ‘hommes serieux’ who will be more than a little red-faced…
The questions for The Sun just got bigger still.
— Lewis Goodall (@lewis_goodall) July 12, 2023
Former Editor of The Sun, David Yelland rushed to attack the paper, posting this a few hours after Huw’s wife named him as the presenter embroiled in scandal:
I wish @thehuwedwards well. The Sun inflicted terror on Huw despite no evidence of any criminal offence. This is no longer a BBC crisis, it is a crisis for the paper. Huw’s privacy must now be respected. Social media also needs speedy reform.
— David Yelland (@davidyelland) July 12, 2023
Emily Maitlis also blasted the “distasteful” BBC coverage of further allegations coming to light, questioning on The News Agents whether journalism had gone “too far” while “this poor man was in hospital, and that was absolutely appalling, and yet obviously there will be journalists here saying “but that doesn’t stop us doing our work”. Let’s not forget that the child’s mother initially approached the BBC to report the disturbing situation and she was met with silence…
Meanwhile, Jon Sopel was quick to wish Huw well:
This is an awful and shocking episode, where there was no criminality, but perhaps a complicated private life. That doesn’t feel very private now. I hope that will give some cause to reflect. They really need to. I wish @thehuwedwards well. pic.twitter.com/H3rN3bhE1U
— Jon Sopel (@jonsopel) July 12, 2023
Last but not least, Corbynite luvvie Owen Jones posted a moving defence that hasn’t aged well:
The Sun is a disgusting rag and they have to pay for what they’ve done to Huw Edwards.
They tried to destroy someone’s life with false claims of illegality involving a minor.
We know now there was no criminality, and The Sun have driven a vulnerable man into medical care.
— Owen Jones (@OwenJones84) July 12, 2023
They’re not leaping to his aid anymore…
Speaking at his speech on how to achieve “progressive capitalism” Wes Streeting fired a dig and Andy Burnham:
“Bond markets are not bond villains and fiscal rules matter.”
