16 Apr 2021
A BBC presenter said she felt “haunted” by complaints that the broadcaster was “building up” UKIP and its then-leader Nigel Farage in the early 2010s.
Samira Ahmed, who presents the viewers’ feedback programme
NewsWatch on the BBC’s news channel, had made the remarks on her non-BBC podcast
How I Found My Voice while interviewing
Private Eye editor Ian Hislop.
While discussing with Hislop how appearances on their platforms had boosted the careers of various political figures, Ahmed stated that in the early 2010s,
NewsWatch had received complaints from viewers about the BBC “building up” Mr Farage and his eurosceptic UK Independence Party (UKIP) ahead of local elections, according to
Prime Minister Boris Johnson makes a statement in Downing Street on April 09, 2021, in London, United Kingdom. | Pippa Fowles/No 10 Downing Street via Getty Images
U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has assured that pastors will not face criminal charges for counseling individuals seeking help with unwanted same-sex attraction as Parliament seeks to ban so-called conversion therapy.
In a March 27 letter responding to concerns raised by the Evangelical Alliance and its 3,500 member churches that clergy might potentially face criminal prosecution, the prime minister said: As the Government made clear in 2018, when we first made our commitment to end conversion therapy, we will continue to allow adults to receive appropriate pastoral support (including prayer), in churches and other religious settings, in the exploration of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Brighton Pride. Credit: Matt Alexander/PA
The government has disbanded its LGBT advisory panel, set up to guide ministers on issues affecting the community.
It follows the resignation last month of panel member Jayne Ozanne, who told ITV News that the government had created a hostile environment for LGBT+ people. Two other panel members also resigned in her wake.
On Tuesday, the Government Equalities Office said in a statement: The LGBT Advisory Panel was created under the previous administration and the term of all panel members ended on March 31st. The Minister for Women & Equalities has written to panel members to thank them for their contributions, and plans for a replacement for the Panel will be set out in due course.
Boris Johnson has confirmed churches in Britain will still be allowed to pray for gay people who are questioning their sexuality - despite plans to ban conversion therapy.
The Prime Minister said all adults can still get appropriate pastoral support including prayer in religious settings in the exploration of their sexual orientation .
He responded after church leaders raised fears that Christians could be prosecuted if they were banned from praying for people who no longer wish to be gay.
The PM told the Evangelical Alliance that he takes freedom of speech and freedom of religion very seriously while the Government plans to ban conversion therapy.
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