LAURA Kuenssberg has been slammed on social media and accused of "fuelling a witch hunt" against the Civil Service.
The journalist tweeted a video from her new BBC Two documentary series – State of Chaos – where she is interviewing former senior civil servant Simon McDonald.
In the video, McDonald, who used to work in the Foreign Office, admits that he told colleagues that he had voted to remain in the European Union during the referendum vote in 2016.
Alongside the clip, the former BBC political editor wrote: “Civil servants are meant to be totally impartial … but here’s what the former foreign office chief did in the aftermath of the EU vote."
Civil servants are meant to be totally impartial … but here’s what the former foreign office chief did in the aftermath of the EU vote pic.twitter.com/iyUzc5yOt0
— Laura Kuenssberg (@bbclaurak) September 11, 2023
Kuennsberg responded in the clip, saying: “Having covered politics for more than 20 years though, it’s extraordinary to hear you tell us that you told people how you voted. Because that principle of impartiality is what holds the Civil Service together.”
McDonald then defended the decision. He said: “I was trying to maintain credibility, and trying to convey a message to a group of people, most of whom I felt had voted to remain in the EU, that their personal feelings were beside the professional point."
He added that it was a “personal decision”.
But the BBC journalist was slammed for her response.
A senior journalist at ARD in London, Annette Dittert said: “Impartiality is not about not telling what you think, especially not in such a hypercharged moment. It is about the Civil Service giving the best impartial advice to their ministers.
“Which they did. Here Laura K is just fuelling the witch hunt against the Civil Service.”
Impartiality is not about not telling what you think, especially not in such a hypercharged moment. It is about the civil service giving the best impartial advice to their ministers. Which they did. Here Laura K is just fuelling the witch hunt against the Civil Service. https://t.co/RZQ0TIbvNS
— Annette Dittert (@annettedittert) September 11, 2023
Colin Talbot, a politics professor at Manchester University said: “Laura thinks this is a “gotcha” moment.
“It isn’t. Civil servants are not expected to have impartial BELIEFS. That would be ridiculous.
“They are expected to impartially serve the Government of the day - whatever they think."
Some, meanwhile, said it indicated that the Civil Service is in need of reform.
Tory MP Liam Fox tweeted: “The correct answer is, ‘It doesn't matter who we voted for; we will deliver the referendum result.’
“Further confirmation of why we need civil service reform.”
