Byline Times, the Waitrose shopper’s Skwawkbox, has had to distance itself from a xenophobic tweet sent by their Global Correspondent. The tweet’s text was bad enough, claiming “Muslims in Britain and India fear potential UK PM Rishi Sunak”. The accompanying image was even more eyebrow-raising…
British Future director Sunder Katwala slammed the post, tweeting “The idea that his father in law’s comments about Modi link Sunak to the BJP and Adolf Hitler is ludicrous. This seems to me an attack (motivated by partisanship) which crosses over into prejudice.”
Almost two days after CJ Werleman posted it, Byline Times were finally forced to distance themselves from the tweet:
CJ deleted the Tweet when we contacted him. Of course, we dissociate ourselves from this kind of stereotyping.
— Byline Times (@BylineTimes) July 27, 2022
No word on disciplinary action…
The Byline Times ran a piece entitled “Home Office fails to explain strange expenses”, in which they investigated the reported spend on the department’s expenses logs. Among the outgoings included £107,269.40 spent with Global Beauty Products Limited, and £5,415.90 at Primark. Skwawkbox reprinted the investigation, claiming the Home Office’s procurement card “revealed list of shocking spending”. Guido reckons both outlets are about to experience some red faces…
Guido’s made some inquiries and, without much effort, discovered:
- The spending with Global Beauty Products Limited and “SP Beautiful Brows” was for the firm’s professional level PPE. Not new eyebrows for Priti Patel…
- The Primark spending was on new clothes for migrants.
A Home Office source tells Guido much of the £5,400 Primark claim was, in fact, for refugees – not just clothes for migrants. The Byline Times prides itself in reporting “what the papers don’t say” – turns out there’s good reason for that…
UPDATE: A couple more contentious spends explained:
– £3,774.29 at Pollyana Restaurant was a hire charge for training
– £900 at The Magdalen Arms was hiring the place out as a training venue for staff
