DUP question 'bizarre' treatment of leader Gavin Robinson during BBC election interview

By David Thompson
Published 23rd Jun 2024, 17:36 BST
Gavin Robinson faced repeated interruptions during what the DUP have described as a 'bizarre' interview on BBC Northern Ireland.Gavin Robinson faced repeated interruptions during what the DUP have described as a 'bizarre' interview on BBC Northern Ireland.
Gavin Robinson faced repeated interruptions during what the DUP have described as a 'bizarre' interview on BBC Northern Ireland.
The DUP have questioned the treatment of Gavin Robinson by BBC’s The View programme last week, claiming the interviewer spoke for more than 50% of the interview.

​The DUP boss was being interviewed by Mark Carruthers on Thursday night, and faced a combative interview style with frequent interruptions.

DUP candidate Gregory Campbell said: “The BBC's objective is supposedly ‘to educate, inform and entertain’. I'm not sure they struck the right balance on Thursday evening. I know several BBC journalists who reached out to us to indicate they felt the interviewer had done more talking than the interviewee.

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“If the interviewer asking the questions spoke more than 50% of the time, then that is bizarre and the public service element of the interview is called into question.

“We will review after the election. It’s important that all leaders are treated fairly."However, the BBC defended its position. A BBC spokesperson said: "We think that this was a wide ranging and informative interview."It explored several key issues, allowing Gavin Robinson to set out the DUP's position and to deal with specific questions about it."

During the interview, Gavin Robinson said that Mark Carruthers was "confused" in his line of questioning. Mr Carruthers had asked the DUP about Carla Lockhart's election literature said she would "ensure" the removal of the Irish Sea border - and said Mr Robinson's position was more "nuanced". Gavin Robinson said his literature had exactly the same wording.

The DUP boss told the BBC presenter that "people in your seat" were confusing the issues around the Irish Sea border.

Related topics:BBCDUPGregory CampbellCarla LockhartIrish Sea

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