BBC editor defends decision to air interview with Marine Le Pen on Andrew Marr Show amid furious row

Outrage: Anger erupted at the decision to air an interview with National Front leader Marine Le Pen on the Andrew Marr Show on Remembrance Sunday
REUTERS/Charles Platiau
Jamie Bullen14 November 2016

BBC executives have defended the decision to air an interview with French far-right leader Marine Le Pen on Remembrance Sunday following an angry backlash on social media.

Critics hit out at the corporation accusing it of giving a “platform for fascism” and branded the timing “inappropriate” after it emerged the National Front leader would appear during a pre-recorded interview.

But the BBC has dismissed the outrage, claiming the controversial politician is a “serious contender” for the French presidency.

Andrew Marr Show editor Rob Burley posted a series of tweets justifying why Ms Le Pen was chosen to be interviewed on the political programme.

"Good news": French far-right leader Marine Le Pen said she was pleased with Mr Trump's win
AFP PHOTO / Martin BUREAUMARTIN BUREAU/AFP/Getty Images

Among the reasons he stated was Donald Trump’s shock election win which he said made victory for Ms Le Pen a “possibility”.

Ms Le Pen posted a series of tweets following Mr Trump's stunning upset over Hillary Clinton which she described as "good news" for France.

He wrote: “Marine Le Pen is a controversial booking. But she is a serious contender for the French Presidency whatever you think of her views. . .

“Her party's support - 6m in 2015 elections, 6m in the last Presidential Election and her ratings ahead of 2017 election significant. .

“In French politics she is "normalised" by public support. We either treat her seriously or censor her.

“The shocks to conventional wisdom of the Referendum result & Donald Trump's election make her victory a possibility if it wasn't already.”

His intervention came amid a storm of angry tweets from social media users.

Journalist Liam O’Hare wrote: “The BBC has invited a neo-fascist - Marine Le Pen - to be a guest on the Andrew Marr show this Sunday. Remembrance Sunday. Lest we forget?”

Caroline Evans posted: “On Remembrance Sunday #Marr sees Marine Le Pen as an appropriate guest. BBC frequently allowing fascism to be an acceptable political view.”

And Irene Klein tweeted: “I really admire your work, but giving fascists a platform is what brought us here in the first place. Please stop.”

The Andrew Marr Show is broadcast on BBC1 on Sundays at 9am.

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