BBC receives almost 24,000 complaints over Maitlis' Newsnight monologue criticising Cummings

Complaints focussed on 'bias against Dominic Cummings and/or the Government', broadcaster says

An episode of the BBC’s flagship news programme Newsnight in which host Emily Maitlis delivered a monologue criticising the government over its handling of the Dominic Cummings scandal received almost 24,000 complaints.

Maitlis used the opening of the show to hit out at the government’s response to Mr Cummings, who had drawn criticism for driving from London to Country Durham at the height of the coronavirus lockdown.

However, the BBC 2 presenter was accused of editorialising and breaching impartiality guidelines in the monologue, which prompted a rebuke from the broadcaster’s internal review process.

The presenter had opened the show by saying the prime minister’s chief advisor ”broke the rules”, adding: “The country can see that, and it’s shocked the government cannot.”

“He was the man, remember, who always got the public mood,” she said, ”who tagged the lazy label of elite on those who disagreed. He should understand that public mood one now: one of fury, contempt and anguish.

“He made those who struggled to keep to the rules feel like fools, and has allowed many more to assume they can now flout them.”

Shortly after it had aired the broadcaster found the episode "did not meet our standards of due impartiality" and said staff had been "reminded of the guidelines".

Following the controversy over Mr Cummings, Maitlis did not appear as scheduled on an episode of Newsnight, saying she asked for the evening off.

The BBC has since received 23,674 complaints over the episode, which was aired on 26 May, made on the grounds that viewers felt the programme showed "bias against Dominic Cummings and/or the Government".

In a report detailing the complaints, the BBC said they came "after invitations to complain were posted online"