Jon Kay clashed with a guest after she made accusations towards the BBC.
The presenter, 54, joined Sally Nugent on the red sofa on Monday’s instalment (March 18) of BBC Breakfast. The duo welcomed the Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch and addressed why she had hit the headlines recently.
Conservative Party donor Frank Hester made comments about MP Diane Abbott, which Badenoch claimed were “racist”. He is alleged to have said Ms Abbott, Britain’s longest-serving black MP, made him “want to hate all black women” and that she “should be shot”.
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Jon kicked off the interview by asking how Badenoch felt when she saw the comments for the first time. After admitting she felt the remarks were “inappropriate”, she added: “I’m still amazed that over a week later that I’m still being asked about it.”
(Image: BBC)
Jon pointed out that the politician felt so strongly about it that she publicly branded them racist on social media, even though Prime Minister Rishi Sunak hadn’t. The 44-year-old responded: Yes, that was one week ago. I’m surprised I’m still talking about it.”
She went on to say that while she believed the comments were racist, it’s not one of her priorities given as Hester has apologised for the remarks. Badenoch reiterated her point of being surprised that she was still having to speak on the matter.
She explained: “I was making my comments in a personal capacity as the only back woman in the cabinet. This was last Tuesday.
(Image: BBC)
“The comments had been discussed over the weekend then. I’m just very surprised that instead of talking about the work we’re doing here in the West Midlands, the work I’m doing with auto and manufacturing, that’s not something people are interested in.”
Swiping at the presenter, Badenoch continued: “We are all working very hard to do so much for the people of this country and yet we spend all our time answering questions about last week’s news, which was quite frankly a line drawn under once he had made his apology.”
Jon then questioned why the situation had been dragged on for so long, asking whether it was because Sunak didn’t respond quickly enough to the comments. Badenoch immediately shut down these claims, accusing the BBC of not caring about other work politicians are doing.
(Image: BBC)
“I’m afraid I disagree,” she said. “The only reason why it’s still dominating the front page is because you are not interested in the work that the government is doing. You are interested in a story from last week which has been apologised for and everyone has moved on.”
Badenoch said the story hasn’t been raised once in her constituency, adding: “This is something that is pure media bubble speculation.” She insisted she wasn’t “frustrated” with the line of questioning before saying: “I think it’s more reflective about what the BBC is interested in.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
