PM slams BBC riot coverage 'mush

Prime Minister David Cameron has criticised the BBC for trying to "mush" together the riots with wider problems of inequality.
In an interview on BBC Radio 4's flagship Today programme, Mr Cameron said the "danger" of the corporation's coverage was that it could be used as an excuse for not acting.
Mr Cameron was also forced to deny witnessing disorder during his time as a member of Oxford University's raucous Bullingdon Club.
Presenter Evan Davis asked him: "I don't want to equate it to the riots, I don't want to harp on about it, but the Bullingdon Club: that's a youthful gang, you could almost call it, engages in violent behaviour. Do you see any likeness in that to what occurred?"
Mr Cameron told him: "I think we all do stupid things when we are young and we should learn the lessons."
Asked if he "witnessed people throwing things through windows, smashing up restaurants" while in the club, Mr Cameron replied: "No I didn't. As I say, we all do stupid things when we are young and I think that's clear."
Mr Davis then asked Mr Cameron about the wider causes of the riots which hit British cities. The PM said that "when you listen to the BBC there is a sort of danger" that all the issues are put in a "great mush and make that as an excuse for not acting".
Mr Davis tried to interrupt the PM, saying "no, no, no, no, no", but Mr Cameron continued: "Some people almost say 'well until we deal with the problem of inequality in our society there is nothing you can do to deal with rioting'."
A spokesman for the broadcaster said: "The BBC's coverage and analysis of the recent riots endeavoured to explore all aspects, as our audiences would expect. We also sought to reflect a range of views as to the reasons behind the riots. We are confident we did this in an impartial and balanced manner."
On Twitter, Mr Davis said: "The point of the BC (Bullingdon Club) question was not to point the finger at Cameron for hypocrisy ... it was about whether there is a general decline and whether we can forgive youngsters caught up in stupid things."

 

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