Another silly news, this time from the BBC Breakfast's interview with Robert Jenrick (Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government). Charlie Stayt and Naga Munchetty were the hosts of BBC Breakfast.
At the end of the interview before Jenrick's camera turns off/pans away, Charlie Stayt joked about the size of Jenrick's Union Jack in the office of Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Govt (MHCLG) compared to the Down Street Media/Press Briefing's. Jenrick laughed and smiled along with the two hosts. As camera turned back to the BBC studio, Charlie Stayt first said "just a thought". Naga Munchetty then commented on the picture of The Queen in MHCLG's office (in which Jenrick was in doing the interview). Stayt and Munchetty then mentioned that there is always an Union Jack in the Cabinet Minister's Office (in some cases The Queen's portrait) and these politicians are not afraid to show it in interview.
Brief video of the BBC interview:
Haggis_UK [Flag of United Kingdom] [Flag of European Union] @Haggis_UK
Charlie Stayt - "Robert Jenrick, your flag is just a little bit small." [Smiling face with smiling eyes]
#BBCBreakfast
6:48 PM · Mar 18, 2021·Twitter for Android
There were some outrage and has been picked by some papers. I assumed it's almost reminiscent to the Emily Thornberry's (the then Shadow Attorney General) tweet of "Image from Rochester" with picture the white coloured van in front of a house with three St. George flags. Emily Thornberry at that time was perceived to be "snobbish" and "sneering". The BBC was also accused of breaking impartiality rules. Oliver Dowden, Cultural Secretary told the Telegraph that BBC must respect values of the whole UK.
Outcry after 'sneering' BBC presenters mock minister over Union flag
Culture Secretary hits back at Charlie Stayt and Naga Munchetty’s comments, telling Telegraph BBC must respect values of whole UK
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/03/18/outcry-sneering-bbc-presenters-mock-minister-union-flag/
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...nline-mocking-Robert-Jenricks-Union-flag.html
The next day Robert Jenrick tweeted out that the MHCLG office is proud to fly the British flag and attached a picture of the Union Jack, Portrait of the Queen, sofas and red box (Ministerial dispatch box) with EIIR monogram in his department office.
Robert Jenrick @RobertJenrick
We’re always proud to fly the Union Flag at @mhclg
It’s a symbol of liberty and freedom that binds the whole country together.
5:14 AM · Mar 19, 2021·Twitter for iPhone
Naga Munchetty then apologise for liking tweets that were offensive on the use of British flag
Naga Munchetty @TVNaga01
I 'liked' tweets today that were offensive in nature about the use of the British flag as a backdrop in a government interview this morning.
I have since removed these 'likes'.
This do not represent the views of me or the BBC.
I apologise for any offence taken.
Naga
6:28 AM · Mar 19, 2021·Twitter for Android
I personally think the whole "saga" is just silly and provided more ammunition to the Defund the BBC campaign. I'm not questioning the right of Charlie Stayt and Naga Munchetty in making these comments, but what is their purpose exactly? The Union Jack and picture of the Queen are not even in Jenrick's home, there are from his office, more specifically Her Majesty's Governments office (hence the portrait of The Queen). He probably has little input on how to arrange the MHCLG office for media interview or online conference. I don't even understand the outrage either, given that Jenrick just laughed it off at the end of his interview.
Even a royal watcher and royal family fan has posted this saga/incident on instagram
https://www.instagram.com/p/CMk0x-0nxYK/
I've never noticed it before and even watched twice to be sure I wasn't seeing things. Did anyone else notice this? Please tell me that I haven't just been totally oblivious to this for ages?
