All Sections

View and post jobs in journalism
  • Platforms
  • Publishers
  • Comment/Analysis
  • Editor's Pick
  • Interviews
  • News
    • Broadcast Journalism
    • Digital Journalism
    • Magazines
    • Media Law
    • National Newspapers
    • People
      • Appointments
      • Obituaries
    • Regional Newspapers
  • Press Gazette Podcast
  • British Journalism Awards
  • Press Gazette Email Newsletter

In the news

  • Platforms
  • Publishers
  • Interviews
  • Marketing
  • About us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • RSS
Close
[mashshare]
Skip to content
  • About us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • RSS
All sections

Search

Search pressgazette.co.uk

Close

Press Gazette

Subscribe to our email newsletter Journalism email newsletter
  • News
  • Comment
  • Data
  • Platforms
  • Publishers
  • Marketing
  • Awards
  • Jobs

Menu

  • Platforms
  • Publishers
  • Interviews
  • National Newspapers
  • Regional Newspapers
  • Digital Journalism
  • Broadcast Journalism
  • Media Law
  • Magazines
  • Wires and Agencies
  • Obituaries
  • News
  • Comment/Analysis
  • Jobs
  • British Journalism Awards

In the news

  • Platforms
  • Publishers
  • Interviews
  • Marketing
Close
Google to give Archant millions to find way to make local news pay online
Marie Claire UK loses editor and MD to title's print closure
September 19, 2019
  • Broadcast Journalism
  •    
  • Digital Journalism
  •    
  • News
  •    
  • Social media
  •    

Father who confronted Boris in hospital defends BBC political editor over tweet criticism

By PA Mediapoint Twitter

Share this

  • Tweet
  • Share 0
  • Reddit
Comments
2

A father who confronted Boris Johnson to complain about the state of the NHS has defended the BBC’s political editor Laura Kuenssberg after she faced criticism for pointing out he is a Labour activist.

Omar Salem said Kuenssberg was doing her job “without fear or favour” after a Twitter storm in which she was condemned for potentially opening him up to abuse online over the incident.

Timeline

  • January 22, 2021

    BBC tops £1m on legal fees fighting equal pay and race discrimination cases

  • January 21, 2021

    BBC's Sophia Smith Galer on TikTok fame and why she's 'flummoxed' more publishers don't copy Washington Post's 'Dave'

  • January 14, 2021

    New BBC chairman says Brexit coverage was 'incredibly balanced' and calls licence fee 'least worst' option

After Salem took the Prime Minister to task during a visit to a children’s ward at Whipps Cross University Hospital, where his seven-day-old daughter is being treated, Kuenssberg told her followers he was a Labour activist, before linking to one of his posts about the incident.

It prompted fury from many social media users, with some suggesting it could “direct harassment” at Salem, and causing #SackLauraKuenssberg to begin trending online.

Salem tweeted today: “Laura Kuenssberg is doing her job without fear or favour, which is a vital part of democracy. I don’t think ‘Labour activist cares about NHS’ is a huge scoop though…”

The BBC was forced to release a statement defending Kuenssberg last night, saying any claim she had maliciously shared Salem’s tweet was “absurd”.

The corporation said: “Laura is a journalist who uses social media as part of her job.

“Like many others, Laura quote-tweeted a thread by Omar Salem, who had written himself about his encounter with the PM on social media and describes himself as a Labour activist.

“Any suggestions there was malicious intent behind her tweets are absurd.”

The tweet of Salem’s which Kuenssberg shared read: “Boris Johnson dropped into Whipps Cross Hospital for a press opportunity – so I gave him a piece of my mind about how he is running the NHS based on the experience with my 7-day-old daughter, who was neglected for hours last night.”

ITV political correspondent Paul Brand also shared the tweet.

During the visit, Salem told Johnson: “There are not enough people on this ward, there are not enough doctors, there’s not enough nurses, it’s not well organised enough.

“The NHS has been destroyed… and now you come here for a press opportunity.”

Johnson replied: “There’s no press here,” but Salem gestured to cameras filming the confrontation, and said: “What do you mean there’s no press here, who are these people?”

Picture: BBC News

SIGN UP HERE FOR

MEDIA MONITOR

Press Gazette's weekly email providing strategic insight into the future of the media

Subscribe

Related Stories

  • BBC says Kuenssberg will not speak at Tory conference after Canary story suggesting otherwise
  • BBC's Laura Kuenssberg 'assigned bodyguards' for Labour Party conference
  • Interview with Journalist of the Year Laura Kuenssberg: 'I would die in a ditch for the impartiality of the BBC'
  • BBC receives nearly 600 complaints over Boris Johnson interview

Explore these topics

  • BBC
  • Laura Kuenssberg
  • Twitter
Browse, search and add journalism jobs
Comments

2 thoughts on “Father who confronted Boris in hospital defends BBC political editor over tweet criticism”

  1. Elfbrook says:
    September 20, 2019 at 11:36 am

    Do me a favour – Tommy Robinson a journalist? Since when? Who has he written articles for or done interviews for? Expressing your vile opinions to the media does not make you a journalist. Hope he’s enjoying his time as a guest of Het Majesty.

    Reply
  2. Big Bad John says:
    September 19, 2019 at 2:46 pm

    “Laura Kuenssberg is a journalist”, so is Tommy R and he’s in jail for it,

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More content

Post a job on Press Gazette

Most Popular

  1. Cycling London New guidelines for UK journalists on reporting road collisions suggest banning use of the word 'accident'
  2. Diversify newsroom campaigner: Jobs go to privileged white colleagues who don't need to apply
  3. TikTok tips for journalists by BBC's Sophia Smith Galer BBC's Sophia Smith Galer on TikTok fame and why she's 'flummoxed' more publishers don't copy Washington Post's 'Dave'
  4. Yorkshire Evening Post IPSO Yorkshire Evening Post breached woman's privacy by reporting claim she had mental illness
  5. New York Times third-party cookies New York Ties Interview: New York Times explains the in-house adtech it is using to prepare for the death of third-party cookies

Latest Jobs

  • Global Witness logo investigative journalist job Investigation Officer (Forests), Global Witness
  • Editor in Chief, Scottish Sun
  • Features Producer, Economist Radio
Marie Claire UK loses editor and MD to title's print closure

© copyright 2021 Press Gazette Ltd. Made in Taiwan.