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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Newsnight editor apologises for calling Labour MP 'boring snoring' | Newsnight editor apologises for calling Labour MP 'boring snoring' |
| (8 days later) | |
| The editor of Newsnight has issued a formal apology to the Labour party after he described a member of the shadow cabinet as "boring" in a Twitter gaffe. | The editor of Newsnight has issued a formal apology to the Labour party after he described a member of the shadow cabinet as "boring" in a Twitter gaffe. |
| Ian Katz, the former deputy editor of the Guardian, described Rachel Reeves' appearance on the show as "boring snoring" in a tweet late on Monday which he had intended to send as a private direct message. | Ian Katz, the former deputy editor of the Guardian, described Rachel Reeves' appearance on the show as "boring snoring" in a tweet late on Monday which he had intended to send as a private direct message. |
| Katz, in only his second week in charge of the BBC2 show, apologised for the message on Twitter which he described as "ill-judged". | Katz, in only his second week in charge of the BBC2 show, apologised for the message on Twitter which he described as "ill-judged". |
| But on Tuesday Labour emailed Katz demanding a full written public apology for the comment, which it said "undermines confidence" in Newsnight's impartiality and fairness. | But on Tuesday Labour emailed Katz demanding a full written public apology for the comment, which it said "undermines confidence" in Newsnight's impartiality and fairness. |
| Katz responded by email to Bob Roberts, the Labour party's director of communications, apologising "unreservedly for my ill-judged remark" and saying that it was intended as a private message "but as you rightly say that is no excuse". | Katz responded by email to Bob Roberts, the Labour party's director of communications, apologising "unreservedly for my ill-judged remark" and saying that it was intended as a private message "but as you rightly say that is no excuse". |
| However, he added: "I don't accept your implication that my tweet reflects in any way on the impartiality or fairness of Newsnight, except to the extent that it reflects a determination to make Newsnight as interesting as I can. | However, he added: "I don't accept your implication that my tweet reflects in any way on the impartiality or fairness of Newsnight, except to the extent that it reflects a determination to make Newsnight as interesting as I can. |
| "I am acutely aware, however, that we ask quite a lot of guests when we invite them to come into the studio to do late night interviews and my tweet hardly conveyed the appreciation we owe them for making the trip. | "I am acutely aware, however, that we ask quite a lot of guests when we invite them to come into the studio to do late night interviews and my tweet hardly conveyed the appreciation we owe them for making the trip. |
| "I particularly regret any personal offence or upset I have caused to Rachel and hope she will come on Newsnight again soon." | "I particularly regret any personal offence or upset I have caused to Rachel and hope she will come on Newsnight again soon." |
| Another Labour MP, John Denham, appeared to suggest, again on Twitter, that he would not be appearing on the programme as a result of the comment. | Another Labour MP, John Denham, appeared to suggest, again on Twitter, that he would not be appearing on the programme as a result of the comment. |
| "Ian Katz helped me answer whether I wanted to go from Southampton to Glasgow to appear on Newsnight," tweeted Denham. | "Ian Katz helped me answer whether I wanted to go from Southampton to Glasgow to appear on Newsnight," tweeted Denham. |
| Katz's tweet, visible to his 26,000 followers and since deleted, referenced shadow treasury chief secretary Reeves' appearance on the show after she was interviewed by Jeremy Paxman. | Katz's tweet, visible to his 26,000 followers and since deleted, referenced shadow treasury chief secretary Reeves' appearance on the show after she was interviewed by Jeremy Paxman. |
| "Tnks … except for boring snoring rachel reeves," he wrote. "Playout was fun tho, wasn't it? telly MUCH netter [sic] than snooooozepapers innit." | "Tnks … except for boring snoring rachel reeves," he wrote. "Playout was fun tho, wasn't it? telly MUCH netter [sic] than snooooozepapers innit." |
| The post prompted an apparently sarcastic reply from shadow treasury chief secretary Reeves, who simply said "thanks…". | The post prompted an apparently sarcastic reply from shadow treasury chief secretary Reeves, who simply said "thanks…". |
| Katz subsequently apologised for the "ill-judged" comment, which he said was supposed to have been a direct message to one individual Twitter user. | Katz subsequently apologised for the "ill-judged" comment, which he said was supposed to have been a direct message to one individual Twitter user. |
| He said: "Accidentally sent v ill-judged tweet referring to RachelReevesMP's appearance on NN. Thought was DM but in any circs wrong. Have apologised." | He said: "Accidentally sent v ill-judged tweet referring to RachelReevesMP's appearance on NN. Thought was DM but in any circs wrong. Have apologised." |
| But Labour sent Katz an email demanding a full public apology for the "completely unacceptable" comment. | But Labour sent Katz an email demanding a full public apology for the "completely unacceptable" comment. |
| The message sent by the party said: "We would like to express our anger and disappointment at your tweet following Newsnight's interview with Rachel Reeves. | The message sent by the party said: "We would like to express our anger and disappointment at your tweet following Newsnight's interview with Rachel Reeves. |
| "It is completely unacceptable for a senior BBC editor to have expressed this view, whether or not you intended for it to be made public. | "It is completely unacceptable for a senior BBC editor to have expressed this view, whether or not you intended for it to be made public. |
| "It is vitally important that the Labour party, our shadow cabinet and Newsnight viewers have confidence in the impartiality and fairness of your programme, and the criteria on which guests and interviews are judged. | "It is vitally important that the Labour party, our shadow cabinet and Newsnight viewers have confidence in the impartiality and fairness of your programme, and the criteria on which guests and interviews are judged. |
| "This incident undermines that confidence and it is important that this is redressed. Although a tweet of apology has been made, a full written public apology should be made by the end of the day." | "This incident undermines that confidence and it is important that this is redressed. Although a tweet of apology has been made, a full written public apology should be made by the end of the day." |
| Katz oversaw his first Newsnight programme last week. He succeeded Peter Rippon, who left the programme in the wake of the Jimmy Savile crisis. | Katz oversaw his first Newsnight programme last week. He succeeded Peter Rippon, who left the programme in the wake of the Jimmy Savile crisis. |
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