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BBC defends Stephen Doughty's resignation live on Daily Politics BBC defends Stephen Doughty's resignation live on Daily Politics
(35 minutes later)
The BBC has defended its handling of Stephen Doughty’s resignation live on its Daily Politics show after claims that it orchestrated the shadow minister’s move.The BBC has defended its handling of Stephen Doughty’s resignation live on its Daily Politics show after claims that it orchestrated the shadow minister’s move.
It came under fire after it emerged that the corporation had deleted a blogpost from its website saying that political editor Laura Kuenssberg had “sealed the deal” for Doughty to resign live on air. It came under fire after it emerged that the corporation had deleted a blogpost from its website saying that the political editor of BBC News, Laura Kuenssberg, had “sealed the deal” for Doughty to resign live on air.
Related: Three shadow ministers resign over Corbyn's 'dishonest' reshuffleRelated: Three shadow ministers resign over Corbyn's 'dishonest' reshuffle
Doughty quit live on Wednesday’s programme, just before the start of Prime Minister’s Questions in the Commons, the most dramatic resignation of three front bench ministers who stepped down in protest at Jeremy Corbyn’s so-called “revenge reshuffle” of the shadow cabinet. The shadow foreign affairs minister quit live on Wednesday’s programme, just before the start of prime minister’s questions in the Commons, the most dramatic resignation of three members of Jeremy Corbyn’s front bench who stepped down in protest at the Labour leader’s so-called “revenge reshuffle” of the shadow cabinet.
BBC politics producer Andrew Alexander published a blog on the corporation’s website trumpeting the exclusive with the headline “Resignation! Making the news on the Daily Politics”. The BBC’s politics producer, Andrew Alexander, published a blog on the corporation’s website trumpeting the exclusive with the headline “Resignation! Making the news on the Daily Politics”.
The blog, which has now been taken down, explained how Kuenssberg got wind of Doughty’s desire to resign and how, with presenter Andrew Neil’s encouragement, she “sealed the deal” to get him to do it live on air. The blog, which has now been taken down, explained how Kuenssberg got wind of Doughty’s desire to resign and how, with the presenter Andrew Neil’s encouragement, she “sealed the deal” to get him to do it live on air.
“Just before 9am we learned from Laura Kuenssberg, who comes on the programme every Wednesday ahead of PMQs, that she was speaking to one junior shadow minister who was considering resigning. I wonder, mused our presenter Andrew Neil, if they would consider doing it live on the show?“Just before 9am we learned from Laura Kuenssberg, who comes on the programme every Wednesday ahead of PMQs, that she was speaking to one junior shadow minister who was considering resigning. I wonder, mused our presenter Andrew Neil, if they would consider doing it live on the show?
The question was put to Laura, who thought it was a great idea. Considering it a long shot we carried on the usual work of building the show, and continued speaking to Labour MPs who were confirming reports of a string of shadow ministers considering their positions.The question was put to Laura, who thought it was a great idea. Considering it a long shot we carried on the usual work of building the show, and continued speaking to Labour MPs who were confirming reports of a string of shadow ministers considering their positions.
Within the hour we heard that Laura had sealed the deal: the shadow foreign minister Stephen Doughty would resign live in the studio.Within the hour we heard that Laura had sealed the deal: the shadow foreign minister Stephen Doughty would resign live in the studio.
Although he himself would probably acknowledge he isn’t a household name, we knew his resignation just before PMQs would be a dramatic moment with big political impact.”Although he himself would probably acknowledge he isn’t a household name, we knew his resignation just before PMQs would be a dramatic moment with big political impact.”
The blog prompted a backlash against the BBC, with Twitter users criticising the corporation for “engineering the news” and “biased” reporting that breached the corporation’s editorial guidelines. The blog prompted a criticism of the BBC, with Twitter users accusing the corporation of “engineering the news” and “biased” reporting that breached its editorial guidelines.
Others argued it was legitimate for journalists to look to break exclusives.Others argued it was legitimate for journalists to look to break exclusives.
The timing of Doughty’s announcement was a blow to Corbyn who was caught off guard during Prime Minister’s Questions less than an hour later. The timing of Doughty’s announcement was a blow to Corbyn, who was caught off guard during PPMQs less than an hour later.
The issue prompted BBC News to issue a statement defending the programme explaining that Doughty had already made his mind up to resign and “willingly” chose to announce it on the Daily Politics show. The issue prompted BBC News to issue a statement defending the programme and explaining that Doughty had already made his mind up to resign and “willingly” chose to announce it on the Daily Politics show.
On Stephen Doughty's resignation on Daily Politics: pic.twitter.com/9i0iR1sqKKOn Stephen Doughty's resignation on Daily Politics: pic.twitter.com/9i0iR1sqKK
The BBC argues that the show was not biased or faced impartiality issues as it also featured Labour MP Lisa Nandy to add balance. The BBC argues that the show was not biased or impartial, because it also featured the Labour MP Lisa Nandy to add balance.
Doughty said on Twitter that he sent his resignation letter to Jeremy Corbyn “shortly before I did the interview so there was not time for spin doctors to start smearing me”.Doughty said on Twitter that he sent his resignation letter to Jeremy Corbyn “shortly before I did the interview so there was not time for spin doctors to start smearing me”.
He took to Twitter on Thursday night to post a string of tweets explaining his decision to go on the Daily Politics show. He posted a string of tweets on Twitter on Thursday night explaining his decision to go on the Daily Politics show.
Doughty tweeted that after telling his “boss + close friends” he had “lots of journalists ring me”. He tweeted that after telling his “boss + close friends” he had “lots of journalists ring me”.
He then took a call from “one senior journalist” – Kuessenberg – and explained that he is worried about “smears and lies about reasons [for resigning]”. He then took a call from “one senior journalist” – Kuessenberg – and explained that he was worried about “smears and lies about reasons [for resigning]”.
6. Am asked if I will do interview on TV to explain my reasons without spinners getting in first. I say yes. 7. I write to Jeremy to say.6. Am asked if I will do interview on TV to explain my reasons without spinners getting in first. I say yes. 7. I write to Jeremy to say.
8. I do interview and confirm reasons. 9. I get smeared by same people who attacked colleague I resigned over. 10. Point made.8. I do interview and confirm reasons. 9. I get smeared by same people who attacked colleague I resigned over. 10. Point made.
As the criticism mounts on Twitter, Doughty posted an “epilogue” tweet dismissing critisms of the way the announcement was made on the Daily Politics. As criticism mounted on Twitter, Doughty posted an “epilogue” tweet dismissing disapproval of the way the announcement had been made on Daily Politics.
Epilogue: twitter goes into meltdown + lizards running the BBC (all members of the Bilderberg group) are exposed in the harsh sunlight...Epilogue: twitter goes into meltdown + lizards running the BBC (all members of the Bilderberg group) are exposed in the harsh sunlight...