They are angry he’s been given a ‘platform’
Arron Banks is being investigated by the National Crime Agency. The Electoral Commission referred the case, about potential spending offences during the 2016 referendum campaign on EU membership, to the agency.
It suspected Banks was not the “true source” of loans to the campaign and the money had come “from impermissible sources” – noting several meetings with senior Russian officials about gold mining.
Banks, who calls himself a ‘bad boy of Brexit,’ has been the focus of intense speculation about the legality of anti-EU campaigning and the Brexit vote as whole. Vote Leave, the designated campaign during the referendum, has been proven to break spending rules.
Reporting for The Observer, Carole Cadwalladr is drawing connections between Banks, Russia and election manipulation by big data companies like Cambridge Analytica.
She, and many others, said the BBC should not be giving Banks a ‘platform’ by interviewing him.
Nice work @bbc. You just provided a platform to a liar. Who has just smeared me on live tv. Thank you so much https://t.co/wuKAULK4gJ
— Carole Cadwalladr (@carolecadwalla) November 4, 2018
Agree with @carolecadwalla 100% on this. The #BBC serves power & elites, not the fee paying British public. Giving a platform to @Arron_banks to spout lies, without the other side having a right of reply is not journalism @RobBurl. #Marr https://t.co/6MCy4OiZ53
— Joel Benjamin (@Gian_TCatt) November 4, 2018
https://twitter.com/lunar_lazarus/status/1059154566422380544
Arron Banks used the Marr show as a PR platform to come across as a nice guy who had no idea what Brexit would unleash while still bullying and trying to discredit Carole Cadwalladr and Damian Collins at every opportunity. https://t.co/bTp0DWl8ZT
— Scout Rose 💙 (@Scout342) November 4, 2018
I think it speaks volumes that Arron Banks chose Andrew Marr. I can’t imagine him going on Peston or Channel 4 News to defend himself. He knew he’d get a platform to deny everything, discredit journalism and lead the narrative in whatever direction he wanted
— ****** (@previouslyhere) November 4, 2018
That is because the @BBCPolitics will let @Arron_banks platform #fakefacts and #fakenews while @Channel4News won't let him get away with it. https://t.co/ZiHc5zLrdG
— Le_Saboteur #FBPE (@Le_Saboteur_) November 4, 2018
https://twitter.com/timolarch/status/1059144430320541697
Somehow, recalling a surprise attack on an already deposed President is supposed to be a counter to critiques of the unchallenging platforms afforded to @Arron_banks and others? Very weak. https://t.co/eksZEt14Ia https://t.co/PUeftnpUb5
— Tony Yates (@t0nyyates) November 4, 2018
Should all those facing serious criminal charges/investigations be given a platform on the BBC?
Asking for a friend.
— Mountain (@sharpeleven) November 4, 2018
Dreadful error in giving this man a platform while there is an investigation underway.
— Michael 🌹🇬🇧🇪🇺 (@cawleym1) November 4, 2018
https://twitter.com/EhhAveMaria/status/1059041271677939712
And also asking the *right* questions. BBC journos seem to be constantly under-prepared when interviewing serial liars. Need to ask questions that inhibit weaselly evasions & then, as you say, challenging evasive or dishonest responses.
— (((John Davis))) (@RJohnDavis) November 4, 2018
Rob Burley, editor of the BBC’s live political programming, defended the interview – as he regularly does to one side of the divide or the other, depending on who’s on.
The endless use of the word “platform” instead of interview is absurd. It suggests people come on and can make a speech. In fact, Banks was pressed and would not answer where the money came from. People will draw their own conclusions. It’s not a “platform”, it’s an interview.
— Rob Burley (@RobBurl) November 4, 2018
Twitter in 1977: “David Frost should be ashamed. Giving Richard Nixon a platform, a crook who debased our democracy, is simply outrageous.” pic.twitter.com/eLR5aTabvo
— Lewis Goodall (@lewis_goodall) November 4, 2018
