IT’S strange how Cathy Newman of Channel 4 News manages to select the most decent and thoughtful of men as targets to attack.
You might have thought she would have learned from her disastrous attempt to put down Dr Jordan Peterson a couple of years ago – if you want a lesson in how to deal with Leftist interviews, go no further than this – and from her public humiliation, but no.
On Friday evening she decided to take on the quiet, conscientious, capable and hardworking Tory MP David Davies, an example, I would have thought, to all new MPs as to how they should pursue their public duties and conduct themselves.
Her vituperative attack on Mr Davies, member for Monmouthshire and Welsh Office minister, over the government’s response to the South Wales floods, poorly disguised as an ‘interview’, reveals a woman undeterred. You can watch it here.
About seven minutes in, after distressing reports and images of the devastation caused by the floods, Cathy Newman questions Boris Johnson’s silence on the floods in an interview with actor and activist Michael Sheen. The follow-up interview – on the back of this ‘set-up’ of government negligence – is with Mr Davies.
Credit is due to Davies for the firm manner in which he put her straight. She did not like to be told that the chief executive of the local council had specifically asked that no one should visit unless they were part of the rescue effort. That is, no politicians or actors looking for photo opportunities. Ms Newman persisted and was firmly told that her attempts to mislead viewers were not appreciated. As with Dr Peterson, she was undeterred and carried on digging herself into an ever bigger hole. Every angle of her attack was staunchly resisted by Davies, again to his credit, with facts. On she ploughed, as is her wont.
Allowing for the excruciating Left-wing bias of Channel 4, this was a new low. Newman needs to learn some manners, dignity and grace. Her intended victims will not just roll over in the face of adversity. Superficial, politically motivated cross-examination is not the way forward.
Editor’s postscript: We read in the Daily Mail https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8034375/Boris-Johnson-confirmed-plan-sell-Channel-4-boycotting-left-wing-broadcaster.html that ‘Boris Johnson has privately confirmed that he will definitely privatise Channel 4,’ and that ‘He thinks it’s a great idea.’ We do too.
