A BBC cameraman was yesterday injured after apparently being pushed over whilst filming new Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn leave his home in north London.
A video published on Youtube (source: ITN – Conor McNally) purporting to show the incident shows the video camera being pushed to the floor.
In a statement a BBC spokesperson said: “The BBC can confirm there was an incident involving a BBC cameraman whilst filming Jeremy Corbyn leaving his home yesterday. He sustained some injuries for which he’s received treatment. The BBC has spoken to the Labour Party which has confirmed the incident involved a government driver, not a Labour Party member of staff.”
According to SunNation (The Sun's politics website) one photographer who witnessed the incident said: “It was the driver of the cab who had a go at the BBC man. He grabbed him from behind as Corbyn came out and his camera went over and I think he did as well.
“I said to Jeremy you should get out and take responsibility for this, but he just said ‘shut the door’ and drove off.
“We’ve had this for three days now with pushing and shoving – even his press team are doing it. You’d expect it from some popstar but not bloody Jeremy Corbyn''
Channel 4 News political correspondent Michael Crick said on Twitter:
BBC cameraman in hospital last night with neck and face injuries after Corbyn aide allegedly assaulted him as Corbyn left his home yesterday
— Michael Crick (@MichaelLCrick) September 16, 2015
Cameraman in alleged incident outside Corbyn home was seen in hospital wearing neck brace & with bruise to his face
— Michael Crick (@MichaelLCrick) September 16, 2015
Corbyn dismissed the scuffle as a "very, very minor incident".
He said "nobody was hurt" and it was not his responsibility if a camera had fallen to the ground.
Corbyn told broadcasters: "I came out of my house to get into a car and there were a group of photographers outside the garden gate pushing and shoving in a not very helpful way.
"I got into the car. Apparently, somebody's camera fell to the floor during the melee between all these different cameraman and he then pulled the car door open just as we were pulling off and said to me his camera had fallen.
"I said 'I'm sorry about that but it's hardly my responsibility if you lot are pushing each other'. So, that was the end of it.
"It was a very, very minor incident. Nobody was hurt. I've no idea what damage was sustained by the camera. End of story."
A DfT spokesman said: "We are investigating media reports of an incident yesterday involving a Government Car Service vehicle. We are looking at whether the driver was involved and the extent and nature of that involvement."
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