Emily Thornberry found herself squirming on Question Time last night when asked about Labour’s stance on the government’s plans to house asylum seekers in barracks. Even after multiple questions from Fiona Bruce, the Shadow Attorney General couldn’t clarify Labour’s position:
FB: Do Labour support or object to the idea of using barracks to house asylum seekers?
ET: *huffs* I mean, I think that, as I say, I think that it’s not actually – what I- what I object to with the use of barracks is that it’s going to be used as an add on to the hotels. So it’s not a solution to the hotels
FB: So in principle, you don’t have a problem with asylum seekers being housed in barracks?
ET: I don’t have a problem with people being treated humanely…
Guido does have sympathy for Thornberry and the rest of the Labour Party. Pretending to be tough on immigration is difficult for a party full of leftie London lawyers.
Guido was reminded of this research while watching Question Time last night – the research found that 86% of the time the panel was dominated by Remainers. Charles Moore pointed out that he was the only Leave voter on the panel, showing twice as many Remain voters appear on the programme than Leave voters. This won’t come as a surprise to many regular viewers…
The IEA’s analysis referenced by Moore also shows a two to one bias in favour Remain supporting panelists. Guido understands that it must be hard to balance the panel given that the media class and Parliament as a whole is so out of touch with the country on the question of Brexit, but surely it isn’t an impossible task…
Tonight is the debut of the new Fiona Bruce hosted Question Time. BBC sources say that the original fee she was offered was less than Dimbleby got and the BBC argued that it was a legacy from less transparent days. Unlike Dimbleby, who was paid via a private company which did not have to reveal his fee, she will be paid direct by the BBC.
Bruce’s agent cannily played the ‘pay gap’ card to argue that she should receive the same money for doing the same job. Dimbleby was said to be on £15,000 an episode. At the same rate this will push Fiona’s total earnings from the BBC up to the £1 million threshold…
In a decision that was widely trailed, newsreader Fiona Bruce has landed the coveted flagship presenting role. She will present her first programme in January. It was always going to be a woman…
