News

Nadine Dorries rebuked in parliament for trying to influence BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg

Nadine Dorries was rebuked in parliament today after she was caught out trying to influence the BBC’s political editor Laura Kuenssberg.

The culture secretary tweeted Kuenssberg last night after she reported that the PM “looked weak and sounded weak” after back-to-back parliamentary sessions.

Boris Johnson was in the House of Commons for Prime Minister’s Questions early afternoon before addressing the Liaison Committee and his own MPs at the 1922 committee.

Kuenssberg said one MP text her to say his “authority is evaporating” following the marathon day in parliament, a tweet that Dorries was quick to hit out at.

Commenting on the response, Jo Stevens, the shadow culture secretary, expressed surprise that Dorries had the time to “police the BBC.”

She asked: “Would she agree with me that it would be highly appropriate for a government minister overseeing license fee negotiations to seek to influence editorial decisions and using the threat of reducing license fee funding whilst doing so?”

Watch the clip in full:

Related: MPs back ‘watered-down’ proposals to ban paid consultancy work – Labour motion rejected

Jack Peat

Jack is a business and economics journalist and the founder of The London Economic (TLE). He has contributed articles to VICE, Huffington Post and Independent and is a published author. Jack read History at the University of Wales, Bangor and has a Masters in Journalism from the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

Published by