BORIS Johnson’s reaction to a video posted online of a journalist being chased back to Downing Street by anti-lockdown protesters has caused an outcry online.
BBC Newsnight political editor Nick Watt had been covering the demonstration taking place outside No 10 when he became surrounded by an aggressive mob screaming “traitor!” in his face.
Watt fought his way through the crowds, breaking into a run and seeking safety back within the barricades set up around the entrances to Downing Street.
READ MORE: Anti lockdown-protesters condemned for harassing BBC journalist Nick Watt
After seeing the footage for himself, Johnson tweeted: “Disgraceful to see the hounding of Nick Watt doing his job.
“The media must be able to report the facts without fear or favour – they are the lifeblood of our democracy.”
Whilst his sentiment is true that the scenes were in fact “disgraceful”, the rest of Johnson’s message was met with disdain for being “hypocritical”.
Twitter users were quick to point to one of his many scandals – when Johnson was secretly recorded agreeing to give the address of a journalist to his friend Darius Guppy, who wanted to arrange a beating as a revenge for the reporter's work.
His track record on media transparency was highlighted too.
Remember when you were caught on tape trying to get a journalist beaten up?
— Emma Kennedy💙 (@EmmaKennedy) June 15, 2021
Sure ? pic.twitter.com/CFdjKAeykw
— Janey Godley (@JaneyGodley) June 15, 2021
Funny old world...https://t.co/VPmpL56pBn
— BORIS WATCH (@BORIS_WATCH) June 15, 2021
Too much irony in this tweet.
— Andy (@andydavis1978) June 15, 2021
Without fear or favour.
— Susie Arnott ☘️🕷🚴🏻♀️ (@susie_arnott) June 15, 2021
Hmmm… pic.twitter.com/zU85vYPL0Y
Whilst this shouldn't have happened the point is they haven't been doing their job for the last 18 mnths due to you and Ofcom not allowing them to actually report the news, they have been a propaganda arm of the Govt and created fear and mental heath issues.
— Jay🐺🐬 🙂🥛🌸 (@Fto1Jas) June 15, 2021
My God your hypocrisy knows no bounds.
— Yvonne Anne Bolton (@frederickone) June 15, 2021
Can’t be the first to point out that
— Jon ‘Bubs’ (@jon_bubs) June 15, 2021
YOU WERE RECORDED COLLUDING TO HAVE A JOURNALIST PHYSICALLY ASSAULTED!
Last thing you want is the facts coming out.
— Paul (@PaulBry58335884) June 15, 2021
Unless they ask a follow up question in which case they should be instantly muted obviously.
— Neil Channing (@SenseiChanning) June 15, 2021
Haha are you having a laugh!!
— Vea 🌹😊🍫 💙#NHSPay15 (@catch_a_woozle) June 15, 2021
GMB ban for months
No international journalists allowed at G7
Thats just examples......
The media are the lifeblood of our democracy? No mate, that'd be the general public
— 👤🏴 (@fvilz) June 15, 2021
Should we read that as your expressed consent for @BBCNews to report on content from @GoodLawProject @EveryDoctorUK and @PeterStefanovi2
— Mark Simmonds (@Msimmonds68) June 15, 2021
Perhaps these tweets will serve as a wake-up call to Johnson’s own disgraceful behaviour towards the media who – in his own Prime Ministerial words, after all – are the lifeblood of democracy.
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