The government has criticised the BBC’s decision to allow Keir Starmer a ‘right of reply’ broadcast at 8pm last night. The Labour leader made the speech in response to the Prime Minister’s address 24 hours before in which he outlined new restrictions to combat the spread of COVID-19.
An anonymous government source told The Daily Telegraph: “It’s a strange move for the BBC to allow a political statement as a counterpoint to the Prime Minister making a public information address during a time of crisis.
“It raises questions for the BBC on why they are allowing Sir Keir Starmer a primetime slot to give a political rebuttal.”
The BBC defended their decision to allow Starmer the airtime to reply to the Prime Minister by saying that is standard and common practise to allow the Leader of the Opposition to rebut speeches made by the government.
Earlier this year when Boris Johnson announced the country was going into lockdown, Jeremy Corbyn was still Labour leader and not offered right of reply to the Prime Minister’s address.
According to the BBC guidelines: “In exceptional circumstances, such as a decision to go to war, the BBC may be required to provide time for a broadcast by a UK government minister.
“In such circumstances, it may also be necessary for the BBC to consider whether responses from other political parties are appropriate. The BBC, as broadcaster, has the final say on the broadcast’s acceptability in terms of its compliance with appropriate legal and other standards.”
The BBC also said that Keir’s address followed precent set by other leaders of the opposition in times of crisis including Tony Blair, William Hague and Ian Duncan Smith.
