BBC Question Time’s Fiona Bruce quits charity role after domestic abuse comments

Fiona Bruce will step back from her role as an ambassador for the charity Refuge following claims she had trivialised domestic violence.

Bruce made a comment about Stanley Johnson on BBC Question Time presenter last Thursday.

The presenter had interrupted while a panel member was describing the father of Boris Johnson as a “wife-beater”, explaining that his friends had stated he attacked his wife but it was “a one-off”.

The BBC was forced to defend Bruce against accusations that she had trivialised domestic abuse with the comment.

The corporation said that Bruce had an obligation to follow right of reply rules when serious allegations were made about people on air, and that she had not been expressing “personal opinion”.

On Friday, Refuge said the presenter was “deeply upset that this has been triggering for survivors”.

The charity said: “We have spoken to Fiona today, and she is appalled that any of her words have been understood as her minimising domestic violence. We know she is deeply upset that this has been triggering for survivors.” It added: “Fiona is deeply sorry that last night’s programme has distressed survivors of domestic abuse. Refuge stands by her and all survivors today.”

On Monday, Refuge issued another statement confirming it had accepted Bruce's offer to stand down from her role as ambassador.

"Refuge’s position was, and remains, clear – domestic abuse is never a ‘one off’, it is a pattern of behaviour that can manifest in a number of ways, including but not limited to physical abuse," the charity explained.

"Domestic abuse is never acceptable. Over the weekend we have been listening to, and heard, survivors of domestic abuse who have told us how devastating this has been for them. While we know the words were not Fiona’s own and were words she was legally obliged to read out, this does not lessen their impact and we cannot lose sight of that. These words minimised the seriousness of domestic abuse and this has been retraumatising for survivors.

"Survivors of domestic abuse are, and will always be, Refuge’s priority. Our focus must remain on them. Every two minutes someone turns to Refuge for help and our priority is the women and their children who need us. We have today accepted Fiona’s offer to stand down from her role as Ambassador for Refuge."

Refuge said it had thanked Bruce "for her considerable contribution over many years to Refuge and the wider domestic abuse agenda".

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