Independent Media | Campaigning Journalism
Watch Barry Gardiner ambush Robert Peston with the host’s true colours, on his own show
On 28 November, Labour’s Barry Gardiner ambushed Robert Peston with a tweet showing some of the host’s own true colours. Appearing on Peston, Gardiner pointed out that Peston tweeted that the Brexit debate was “becoming cruel” for the prime minister.
“Cruelty is when…”
The shadow secretary for international trade wasn’t impressed:
Barry Gardiner to Robert Peston: "You tweeted 2 days ago, and said that people were being cruel the prime minister over her deal" ??? – "Cruelty is when you have record levels of child poverty, record levels of food banks, record levels of homelessness.."#Peston pic.twitter.com/SzowT10PuB
— C0RBYNAT0R (@Corbynator2) November 28, 2018
Peston retorted that Gardiner was
making an absurd political point
But others on social media disagreed:
Robert @Peston
Examples of being cruel:-
Hostile Environment
Austerity
Heartless welfare system
Vicious sanctions regimeExample of NOT being cruel:-
Holding a prime minister to account for a disastrous policy https://t.co/qJBXdOj1o0— Tom London (@TomLondon6) November 28, 2018
Gardiner later expanded on Labour’s Brexit policy and what will happen if May’s deal is voted down:
Barry Gardiner: If she cannot get her deal through parliament, then "We will call a Vote of Confidence & a General Election."
Barry also points out that Labour could support a deal from the govt if 'a permanent Customs Union' was on the table.#Peston pic.twitter.com/mREAy8tXvi— C0RBYNAT0R (@Corbynator2) November 28, 2018
How likely is a general election?
Like Gardiner says, there could well be a general election. If a simple majority of MPs vote ‘no-confidence’ in May and no alternative government forms within 14 days, a general election automatically goes ahead.
Parliament has been in deadlock over leaving the EU since the 2017 general election. And with Brexit coming to a head, it’s difficult to see where the Conservative Party can turn.
With that in mind, it’s important to call out the corporate media when pundits try and paint May as the victim. She has a rich family, but has still been implementing the Conservatives’ counterproductive austerity regime on working people. Gardiner is spot on to take Peston to task on the matter.
Featured image via Corbynator/ Twitter
We need your help ...
The coronavirus pandemic is changing our world, fast. And we will do all we can to keep bringing you news and analysis throughout. But we are worried about maintaining enough income to pay our staff and minimal overheads.
Now, more than ever, we need a vibrant, independent media that holds the government to account and calls it out when it puts vested economic interests above human lives. We need a media that shows solidarity with the people most affected by the crisis – and one that can help to build a world based on collaboration and compassion.
We have been fighting against an establishment that is trying to shut us down. And like most independent media, we don’t have the deep pockets of investors to call on to bail us out.
Can you help by chipping in a few pounds each month?
Support us -
Show Comments
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to leave a comment.Join the conversationPlease read our comment moderation policy here.
