BBC defends Laura Kuenssberg over 'absurd' claims on social media she maliciously tweeted about father who confronted Boris Johnson

Bonnie Christian19 September 2019
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The BBC has defended journalist Laura Kuenssberg calling suggestions she maliciously shared details of a father who confronted Boris Johnson at a hospital “absurd”.

The broadcaster’s political editor faced a Twitter storm on Wednesday after she shared with her more than one million followers that Omar Salem is a Labour activist and linking to one of his posts about the incident.

Mr Salem also stepped in on Thursday morning to defend Ms Kuenssberg, writing she was "doing her job without fear or favour, which is a vital part of democracy".

Many condemned her decision to share the information, suggesting it could result in the “direct harassment” of Mr Salem, whose heated exchange with the Prime Minister, where he claimed the NHS had been “destroyed”, went viral.

BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg has been defended by the broadcaster. 
PA

Mr Salem describes himself on Twitter as a “Labour activist” but many suggested Ms Kuenssberg was contributing to a “pile-on”.

Late on Wednesday, the BBC News Press Team released a statement dismissing any suggestion of “malicious intent”.

It 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 has written himself about his encounter with the PM on social media and describes himself as an activist.

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

Others also came to her defence, arguing she was doing her job by presenting the facts of the encounter.

The Prime Minister’s disagreement with the father came during a planned visit by Mr Johnson to Whipps Cross University Hospital in east London.

Mr Salem, whose young daughter was being treated there, told Mr Johnson: “The NHS has been destroyed... and now you come here for a press opportunity.”

The PM replied “there’s no press here”. Mr Salem said: “What do you mean there's no press here, who are these people?" and pointed at photographers.

The Conservative leader later shared footage of the incident on social media and addressed criticism that had been an “embarrassment”.

He wrote on Twitter: “I’ve been PM for 57 days, part of my job is to talk to people on the ground and listen to what they tell me about the big problems.

“It doesn’t matter if they agree with me. I’m glad this gentleman told me his problems. This isn’t an embarrassment this is part of my job.”

Boris Johnson confronted at hospital

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Mr Salem had told the Prime Minister: "There are not enough people on this ward, there are not enough doctors, there's not enough nurses, it's not well organised enough.”

Addressing the fact that he is a Labour activist, Mr Salem said: “People will be shocked. You couldn’t tell from my Twitter profile. My Labour values are WHY I back proper support for the NHS. I am not ashamed of them.”

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