BBC came under No 10 pressure to avoid using ‘lockdown’ in early pandemic, leak shows

Former prime minister Boris Johnson, addressing the nation from 10 Downing Street as he placed the UK on lockdown on 23 March 2020. Photograph: PA

BBC editors asked their journalists to avoid using the word “lockdown” in reporting at the start of the pandemic and to be more critical of Labour after pressure from Downing Street, leaked email and WhatsApp messages show.

Emails and messages were shown to the Guardian amid concern among some BBC insiders that the corporation has been too cowed by the government in recent years.