Independent Media | Campaigning Journalism
The BBC’s Nick Robinson has been caught twisting the truth twice in under 12 hours
Twice in under 12 hours, the BBC‘s Nick Robinson seems to have been caught playing fast and loose with the truth.
1) Jeremy Corbyn and Brexit
On 4 December, the Brexit negotiations hit deadlock. Theresa May’s weakness was laid bare after the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) thwarted her EU agreement at the last minute, over the Irish border. Following this, Robinson claimed that Jeremy Corbyn hadn’t even commented on the crucial development:
Labour takes poll lead as @jeremycorbyn chooses to let Tories implode over Brexit whilst he talks about just about anything else https://t.co/3jjjHR0SyD
— Nick Robinson (@bbcnickrobinson) December 4, 2017
But hundreds of people were quick to point out that Corbyn had already responded to the Brexit implosion. Two hours before the Radio 4 host’s comment, the Labour leader released the following statement:
Read on...
The real reason for today’s failure is the grubby deal the Government did with the DUP after the election. It is disappointing that there has not been progress in the Brexit negotiations after months of delays and grandstanding. Labour has been clear from the outset that we need a jobs first Brexit deal that works for the whole of the United Kingdom. Each passing day provides further evidence that Theresa May’s Government is completely ill-equipped to negotiate a successful Brexit deal for our country.
In the tweet, Robinson pointed to a letter from Corbyn to the Prime Minister. This was Robinson’s evidence that the Labour leader was too concerned with “just about anything else” to talk about Brexit. The letter refers to the potential genocide of the Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar (Burma).
In light of this, people also accused Robinson of being dismissive of the humanitarian calamity:
Aside from the fact that this was a lie / error, it's frankly disgusting for Nick Robinson to dismiss the ethnic cleansing and likely genocide of the Rohingya is "just about anything else". https://t.co/SBeVoAjwrv
— Alex Nunns (@alexnunns) December 5, 2017
Zeid Ra‘ad Al-Hussein, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, has described Rohingya people being “deliberately” burnt to death and “indiscriminately” shot while they tried to flee and the “widespread rape of women and girls”.
Not only is genocide and human suffering NOT 'just about anything', Labour released a Brexit statement from JC a full TWO HOURS prior to this tweet! Please RT to share the facts Nick Robinson did not bother to find out.#WeAreHisMedia https://t.co/GjyqU6jJfd
— Chelley Ryan 🖐️ #RJCOB (@chelleryn99) December 5, 2017
2) Political parties hiding from Radio 4
Under 12 hours later, Robinson claimed that Labour, the Conservatives and the DUP had instructed their spokespeople to duck Radio 4:
Calling all those complaining that their party is not on @BBCr4today today : the DUP, Tory & Labour press offices asked their spokespeople not to appear
— Nick Robinson (@bbcnickrobinson) December 5, 2017
But Labour MP Owen Smith quickly disputed the claim:
Not sure that’s true Nick, no-one asked me not to appear – you just didn’t ask.
— Owen Smith (@OwenSmith_MP) December 5, 2017
As did Labour MP Stephen Doughty:
.Really? I or one of my colleagues would have happily appeared Nick – you just don't ask us…
— Stephen Doughty MP / AS (@SDoughtyMP) December 5, 2017
LBC producer Sandra Glab also questioned Robinson:
Owen was on our LBC breakfast programme this morning, and so were Conservative and the SNP spokespeople 🤔
— Sandra Glab (@glabsandra) December 5, 2017
The BBC provided no response to The Canary‘s request for comment.
Even when repeatedly called out, Robinson hasn’t addressed the inaccuracies in his statements. Tweets are not trivial. The entire media and political community gathers information from Twitter. Put simply, if you’re spreading inaccuracies publicly – you’re spreading inaccuracies publicly. That is a serious issue.
Get Involved!
– Read and support the work of independent outlets that seek to hold the powerful to account. Please add more that you like in the comments:
The Canary, Media Diversified, Novara Media, Corporate Watch, Common Space, Media Lens, Bella Caledonia, Vox Political, Evolve Politics, Real Media, Reel News, STRIKE! magazine, The Bristol Cable, The Meteor, Salford Star, The Ferret.
Featured image via Flickr – Tompagenet
We need your help to keep speaking the truth
Every story that you have come to us with; each injustice you have asked us to investigate; every campaign we have fought; each of your unheard voices we amplified; we do this for you. We are making a difference on your behalf.
Our fight is your fight. You’ve supported our collective struggle every time you gave us a like; and every time you shared our work across social media. Now we need you to support us with a monthly donation.
We have published nearly 2,000 articles and over 50 films in 2021. And we want to do this and more in 2022 but we don’t have enough money to go on at this pace. So, if you value our work and want us to continue then please join us and be part of The Canary family.
In return, you get:
* Advert free reading experience
* Quarterly group video call with the Editor-in-Chief
* Behind the scenes monthly e-newsletter
* 20% discount in our shop
Almost all of our spending goes to the people who make The Canary’s content. So your contribution directly supports our writers and enables us to continue to do what we do: speaking truth, powered by you. We have weathered many attempts to shut us down and silence our vital opposition to an increasingly fascist government and right-wing mainstream media.
With your help we can continue:
* Holding political and state power to account
* Advocating for the people the system marginalises
* Being a media outlet that upholds the highest standards
* Campaigning on the issues others won’t
* Putting your lives central to everything we do
We are a drop of truth in an ocean of deceit. But we can’t do this without your support. So please, can you help us continue the fight?
Support us 
