BBC Breakfast took a tense turn when presenter Naga Munchetty slammed Sajid Javid over his government’s Christmas party scandal – and why he failed to give an interview on her show.
Tensions rose in the BBC studio as Naga grilled Health Secretary Sajid Javid on the lockdown scandal when he appeared on Thursday’s Breakfast (December 9).
During the interview, Naga confronted the senior government minister after rejected his interview slot on Wednesday’s Breakfast.
Presenters Jon Kay and Sally Nugent had been left fuming in the senior MP’s absence as they were expecting him on the programme – and the show’s usual format sees the hosts speak to ministers at 7.30am.
(Image: BBC)
However, the show was forced to shake up its format – following the government’s ongoing Christmas party scandal.
Quizzing Sajid on his abssence, Naga pointed out that yestrday he was expected to speak to the media on the anniversary of the vaccine rollout.
She said: “Yesterday marked one year since the first vaccination was given in the UK – in the world…”
Nage continued: “You, the Health Minister, were expected to be on various media outlets yesterday morning, including this one. Why didn’t you?”
(Image: BBC)
Sajid replied: “Because, to be honest, I was upset by that video. The video you would have seen, your viewers would have seen.
“I was upset by it, I’m sure a lot of your viewers were upset by it, and I felt that the prime minister’s team should be given an opportunity to respond. I’m pleased the prime minister has by ordering an investigation.”
The politician was referring to the leaked video of Boris Johnson’s former advisor Allegra Stratton and others joking about an office Christmas party as they practiced a UK press conference during lockdown.
Naga pressed him: “What were you upset about?”
(Image: BBC)
Sajid replied: “I think like most people, just looking at that video and seeing people sort of laughing and smiling about Christmas parties and things like that… I just don’t think it was appropriate and I didn’t like it for that reason,”
“I can think of many of my constituents during that time that couldn’t see their loved ones, go to funerals and things like that, it was awful for my constituents and it upset me.”
Dialing up the heat, Naga continued: “So you were too upset to deliver a health message to the UK?”
Javid fired back: “No, I wouldn’t put it like that. I wanted to give the time and space for the government to respond to that video and I think that was appropriate and I’m glad that they have responded in the way that was set out by the prime minister yesterday.”
Naga went on: “Why should people listen to what the government tells them to do when it’s apparent with alleged parties, numerous parties, that have taken part at Downing Street, that the rules aren’t behind adhered to by senior staff in government?”
Sajid replied that he didn’t think it would be appropriate to comment before the outcome of the investigation, which is being carried out by Boris’ cabinet.
Naga cut him off, though, remarking: “That wasn’t the question, that wasn’t my question. My question was ‘why should anyone trust this government when senior members of it are not abiding by the rules?”
The MP replied that Naga’s framing of the question implied that rules were broken, and that he’d received assurances that rules were not broken.”
It comes after reports that the government hosted a Downing Street Christmas party during the lockdown last year.
Now, a clip of senior No 10 staff, such as former press secretary Allegra Stratton, were joking about holding a festive bash as they rehearsed a press conference.
Downing Street has insisted that no such party took place.
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