Boris Johnson launched the Conservative Party’s manifesto on 24 November. Perhaps unsurprisingly, given her previous record, the BBC‘s political editor Laura Kuenssberg couldn’t wait to defend it. But luckily, Twitter users were on hand to set the record straight and ensure her response got the takedown it deserved.
Kuenssberg tweeted:
Main sense is it’s a do no harm document after the Tory calamity of 2017 – most of big picture plans already out there aside from promise to recruit lots of extra nurses
— Laura Kuenssberg (@bbclaurak) November 24, 2019
“Do no harm”. Seriously.
Twitter users pointed out the very serious harm that the Conservative Party has done and will do to this country:
Do no harm? Do no harm?! Are you kidding me. The country is on its knees under this tory government. Pathetic.
— Joe Brooks (@Joe_Example) November 24, 2019
Meanwhile, other people gave a more realistic assessment of the manifesto:
Yes it’s a #cigarettepacketmanifesto showing lack of understanding and ideas
— Nigel Brazier💙 (@Nigglebra) November 24, 2019
A terrible manifesto and his pledges very poor in such an austerity ridden climate as we're in. Very lacklustre so can only assume business as usual. Time for change even more after this.
— helen walsh 💙 (@fishfriday66) November 24, 2019
Nurses
Many people focused their criticism of Kuenssberg’s statement on her uncritically repeating Johnson’s promise on nurses:
https://twitter.com/D4N13L84/status/1198627507135758336?s=20
https://twitter.com/MaryTapper1/status/1198630917838901249?s=20
https://twitter.com/7january1610/status/1198628603870826498?s=20
While other people called Kuenssberg out for being a spokesperson for the Conservative Party:
Oh, look at you, giving favourable reviews to the tories. Surprised. Not.
— K 🦋 🇵🇸 (@klalalala89) November 24, 2019
https://twitter.com/Nichola90216955/status/1198521555917123584?s=20
Not the only example
But this wasn’t the only contentious tweet Kuessenberg issued. Earlier in the day she tweeted:
Also today another massive promise from Labour – but there was no coating for this in manifesto https://t.co/qv5d2PEtLY
— Laura Kuenssberg (@bbclaurak) November 24, 2019
Kuenssberg was reacting to Labour’s promise to compensate the WASPI women who had their pensions stolen by the Conservative government – a pledge that was in the party’s manifesto:
Under the Tories, 400,000 pensioners have been pushed into poverty and a generation of women born in the 1950s have had their pension age changed without fair notification.
This betrayal left millions of women with no time to make alternative plans – with sometimes devastating personal consequences.
Labour recognises this injustice, and will work with these women to design a system of recompense for the losses and insecurity they have suffered.
So hardly a new “massive promise” but backing up a commitment that had already been made.
Meanwhile, on Twitter, people answered the question of how the compensation will be funded:
https://twitter.com/jrc1921/status/1198517267664982016?s=20
Another day of BBC News propping up the Tories
It seems that BBC News journalists and editors can’t get through a day without a shameless attempt to prop up Johnson. Whether it’s editing out the real reaction he received from the audience during the leaders’ debate, or the pathetic excuses it made for showing the wrong footage of him on Remembrance Day, BBC News has shown time and again that it can’t be trusted.
This is important. Because unlike other outlets, the BBC is supposed to be impartial. But with journalists like Kuenssberg prepared to scrape rock bottom to defend this failed Conservative government, it’s clear this is a long way from being the case.
Featured image via YouTube
