BBC Breakfast host Naga Munchetty was left fuming during Friday’s show (May 13) as Conservative politician Jacob Rees-Mogg branded the Downing Street party fines a “non-story”.
The cabinet minister appeared on the latest episode of the morning programme where he was asked about the latest wave of more than 50 fines issued because of rule-breaking in Downing Street amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“I’m afraid I think this is a non-story,” the politician said when asked about the fines, after which he was interrupted by Naga.
The pair then engaged in a tense exchange.
Naga replied: “I’m sorry, why do you think this is a non-story?
“Have you not heard people genuinely upset and devastated that people in Downing Street thought it was OK to break the rules they set when other people didn’t break the rules and missed out on meeting dying family members?”
Following Jacob’s claims that he thought the Covid rules were “too restrictive”, Naga later added: “Can I just understand your interpretation of where we are with the rules and why you think this is a non-story?
“So, the fact that more than 100 fines have been issued is a non-story because the rules that were set in the first place were too rigorous?
“And they were too strict?”
(Image: BBC)
Jacob replied that the fines were “an important story in February” and “there are other things going on which are more important”.
“I also think we need to look in the enquiry at the rules to see whether they were proportionate,” he concluded.
Quick to support Naga were BBC Breakfast viewers.
They were left equally angered by Jacob’s claims and described his comments as “sickening” and “tone deaf”.
One viewer wrote: “It’s too late to say the rules may have been wrong and it’s sickening to hear you say it’s a non-story.”
(Image: BBC)
Another commented: “Non story??? Because the rules were too strict???Said by one of those who made said rules.”
A third joked: “If I ever break the law I will take a leaf out of Rees-Mogg’s book and imply the law is too strict and me breaking the law is a non story.”
Meanwhile, a fourth enraged viewer responded: “Wow, tone deaf Jacob Rees Mogg says @CONservatives having ILLEGAL PARTIES during #covid19 lockdowns in Downing Street, while the people around UK were dying and could not attend their relatives is “a non story.”
BBC Breakfast airs on BBC One.
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