YP Comment: Faking the truth. Labour's own '˜crash, bang, wally'

THE BBC was not trivialising politics when the agenda setting Today radio programme's newspaper review made reference to The Sun's '˜Crash, Bang Wallies' headline with regard to the leaking of Labour's manifesto and embattled Jeremy Corbyn's car subsequently running over a cameraman's foot on a day of chaos.

labour's Barry Gardiner has accused the BBc of trivialising the defence the debate.

Quite the opposite. It was simply providing a succinct summary of the morning’s papers and for Barry Gardiner, the Shadow International Trade Secretary, to accuse Today’s much respected presenter Nick Robinson of failing to exercise “a degree of choice and discretion” was risible.

BBC accused of ‘trivialising’ defence debate in interview with Labour’s Gardiner

It’s not the fault of the BBC – or any other media outlet – that Labour’s campaign is so shambolic. Yet Mr Gardiner’s cack-handed attempt to suppress criticism, ironically on the day The Yorkshire Post was spearheading a #trustednewsday campaign to promote the integrity of newspapers, did serve to highlight the importance of a free press to hold those in power, or authority, to account.

At least there’s little chance of this danger to democracy actually negotiating Britain’s post-Brexit trade deals – the electorate can be trusted to have far more sense.